
REPORT 



OF 



INDIANA MILITARY AGENCIES, 



TO THE GOVERNOR. 







V 



REPORT 



OF 



INDIANA MILITARY AGENCIES. 



TO THE GOVERNOR. 



^^. . 0^X«-^\ 






INDIANAPOLIS: 

W. R. HOLLOWAY, STATE PRINTER, 

1865. 



.1 ^3 



& 1 






E P R T. 



Indiana Military Agency, \ 
Indianapolis, December , 1864. y 

0. P. Morton, 

Governor of the State of Indiana : 

Sir : — I respectfully submit the following report of the India&a 
Military Agencies : 

Early in 1862, your department became aware of the fact that 
additional systematic aid for the soldiers, by the State, was an im- 
perative necessity. Accordingly, on the 10th of December, 1862, 
under your commission, I opened a Military Agency Office in this 
city, and similar offices were opened in several cities, where large 
bodies of Indiana soldiers were likely to be stationed, or to whoso 
hospitals they might be transferred. 

In Philadelphia, Penn., an office was opened, June 28th, 1862, by 
R. R. Corson, Esq., who makes a very efficient Agent. His attention 
to our sick and wounded has been untiring, as his reports accompany- 
ing this will 6how. 

July 10th, 1862, Col. Frank E. Howe, of New York, was desig- 
nated as Military Agent for that city, and while but few Indiana men 
have been sent there, Col. Howe has been attentive to their wants 
and all the duties appertaining to his position. 

Dr. Calvin J. Woods, of Centreville, Ind., was appointed Military 
Agent for Louisville, Ky., Oct. 27th, 1862, and at once opened an 
office at 540 Main street. This was a most important post in our 
army opperations. Hundreds of our men were daily passing through 
Louisville, and their wants were promptly and kind!y relieved by Dr. 



Woods and his faithful assistant, Jason Ham, Esq., who was sent to 
his aid, Dec. 13th, 1862. The amount of business transacted at this 
office was very large ; day and night it was besieged, yet these faith- 
ful men never grew weary in well doing. On the first of June, 1863, 
Dr. Woods resigned, and was succeeded by his assistant, Jason Ham, 
who is yet in charge of the office. Col. Ham has won great praise 
from all who have come in contact with him. His name is on the 
lips of all soldiers who pass through Louisville. Whether day or 
night, Col. Ham is ready to counsel or relieve soldiers or citizens, and 
help them on their way. 

On Dec. 6th, 1862, Dr. R. Bosworth was sent to Memphis, Tenn., 
to open an office there. Dr. B. had rendered the State efficient ser- 
vice as Traveling Sanitary Agent, and was well qualified to discharge 
the duties of Military Agent. 

The relief bestowed upon our sick and wounded was very great, 
and, until worn out, Dr. B. continued his labors, only yielding when 
prostrated by disease. He was succeeded by Dr. Geo. O. Jobes, of 
Randolph County, Ind., March 3, 1863, who has made a most faith- 
ful Military Agent. The Memphis office, under Dr. Jobes, is a model 
one. Ever at his post, kind, pleasant, and always ready to relieve 
the sufferer ; all go away satisfied and bless the State authorities for 
sending to them such a man as Dr. Jobes. 

The Nashville Agency was opened, Dec. 12th, 1862, by Dr. David 
Hutchison of Mooresville, Ind. Next to Louisville, this is the most 
important post in the south-west. Dr. Hutchison was energetic and 
efficient, always attentive to the private soldier, and kind to all. 

Being appointed Surgeon in the 30th Ind. Vols., he resigned the 
Military Agency, March 3d, 1863, and was succeeded by Capt. J. W. 
Scott, who had been in the office as Clerk for some time. Capt. 
Scott was very attentive and affable. He made the private soldier, 
as well as the officer, feel at home, while in his office, which became 
a resort for soldiers and citizens. Capt. Scott remained in charge 
until Oct. 27th, 1863, when he was succeeded by Col. Edward Shaw, 
who at this time fills the position most efficiently. The State is 
largely indebtedly to him for succeeding in obtaining transportation 
for our sanitary supplies to points soath of Nashville, and the ener- 
getic discharge of the duties of his office. 

He is constantly on duty, and ever looking to the relief of our 
suffering men. 

Maj. J. S. Wilson was appointed Military Agent Dec. 16,. 1862, 
and sent to Columbus, Ky., but, upon examination of the field, it was 



not deemed advisable to open an office there. He was then sent to 
St. Louis, Mo., January 10, 1863, where he opened an office and re- 
mained until August 1, 1863, when our sick being all removed the 
office was closed. 

On the 16th of Dec, 1863, Dr. J. E. McGaughey was appointed 
to again open an agency in St. Louis, and the office is yet open under 
his charge. Dr. McGaughey renders entire satisfaction in the dis- 
charge of his duties ; is attentive to all who command his services. 

Col. Phillip Hornbrook, of Evansville, was appointed January 10, 
1863, to open an agency at that place, and is 'yet most efficiently 
conducting the duties of that office. 

No agent has a kinder heart or more willing mind in the relief of 
the suffering soldier, than Col. Hornbrook. In addition to his multi- 
tude of other duties, he has aided our soldiers very much in the 
collection of claims for back pay, bounties and pensions. 

The agency at Washington City was opened Feb. 20, 1863, by Rev. 
Isaac W. Montfort. He has been very energetic in attention to our 
men on the battlefield and in the hospitals, and has paid considerable 
attention to the collection of claims in favor of our soldiers. He 
was succeeded July 1, 1864, by Wm. H. DeMotte, Esq., of this city, 
Who is now in charge of that office, and makes a very efficient agent. 
Ever pleasant to the soldiers, always at his post, prompt, accurate, 
attentive and energetic in the discharge of his duties. In him the 
State is creditably represented at the capital. 

July 25, 1863, Col. C. F. Kimball was appointed and opened an 
office in Vicksburg, Miss. Shortly afterwards our troops were re- 
moved to New Orleans and Texas, leaving a very small force in 
Vicksburg. It was then deemed proper to transfer Col. Kimball to 
New Orleans, where, on the 29th of October, 1863, he opened an 
office and remained in charge until August, 1864. 

Col. Kimball was an energetic agent, and attentive to the wants of 
our soldiers. October 1, 1864, Dr. George W. New was appointed to 
the New Orleans agency, and immediately went forward to take 
charge of the office. Dr. New and his lady have had large experi- 
ence in the army, which qualifies them for this position, and undoubt- 
edly their duties will be well performed. 

Major James H. Turner, of Marion County, was appointed Military 
Agent November 24, 1863, and proceeded to Chattanooga, Tennessee. 
During the winter and spring the labors of his agency there were 
arduous. Surrounded by a large army, suffering for lack of sufficient 
supplies, the demands on the agency were very great. Maj. Turner 



most faithfully attended to his duties there up to September 1, 1864, 
when his services being required in this office he returned home. He 
was succeeded by Mr. Vincent Carter, of Morgan County, Indiana. 
Mr. Carter having been himself a soldier, "well knows the wants of a 
soldier, and is prompt to render any aid required by our suffering 
men. The State has a faithful agent in Mr. Carter. 

An agency was also opened in Kcokuck, Iowa, March 7, 1863, by 
Mr. E. K. Hart, formerly a citizen of Indiana, to whose large hospi- 
tals it was understood a great number of Indiana sick and wounded 
would be taken, but as very few of our soldiers were sent there the 
agency was soon discontinued. 

The narration of the multifarious duties, of these agencies, will be 
found in the frequent reports which accompany this report. I shall 
refer only to those matters of more prominent importance. 

RECORD FOR INFORMATION. 

At every agency, books are opened in which are recorded the names 
of all Indiana soldiers, sick or wounded, in general or field hospitals, 
in the vicinity of the agency, giving the character of the disease or 
wound, and condition of the patient from time to time, until the sol- 
dier returns to duty, is furloughed, discharged or dies. Copies of 
this record are regularly sent to the Central Agency here, and afford 
a speedy means of satisfactorily answering the numerous inquiries 
regarding relatives in the army. After a battle, the Agent in whose 
district it occurs, takes immediate steps to ascertain the names of the 
killed and wounded of Indiana regiments. These lists are recorded 
at his own office, and transmitted for record here. These records 
have become a source of great interest to thousands of friends, who 
are looking with anxious hearts to find some clue to long lost sons, 
brothers, husbands and fathers. 

ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 

In addition to the large amount of correspondence between the 
central and the other agencies, each agency has a great number of 
letters of inquiry to answer daily. The records of the office are 
frequently sufficient, after diligent search, to supply the desired 
information ; but often the agent must needs go to other offices, 
hospitals, or encampments, for the knowledge wanted ; and whether 
it be from soldiers' friends at home, from men in the ranks or offi- 
cers, the business of the State Agent is to search every source of 



information to the end that correspondents may obtain a full and 
correct answer. This method of obtaining information saves the 
people of the State much time and expense, and all the perplexities 
and dangers of long journeys towards the front. 

CALLS OF PRIVATE SOLDIERS. 

Particular attention has been given at all times to calls of private, 
soldiers. Men in hospitals, camps, or returning to or from their 
regiments, make frequent calls upon the State Agents for informa- 
tion, for little comforts unknown to army regulations, or for special 
transportation ; and these are freely given in all worthy cases. Con- 
valescent soldiers gather in to the agency daily, to learn the news, 
or read home papers, and are always welcome. 

AID TO SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 

Hospitals are visited frequently, and the necessities of our men 
supplied, changes noted, and mismanagement reported. Reading 
matter is often furnished, newspapers, tracts, hymn-books, and books 
which have been donated. After a battle, if the agent is located 
near the scene of the engagement he goes at once to render all pos- 
sible aid. Our agent at Washington City writes as follows in rela- 
tion to the work : 

" After the battle of Ohancellorsville, many packages of sanitary 
stores were taken to the front, and distributed among our wounded. 
The assortment consisted of dressings, shirts, drawers, socks, towels, 
fruit, corn meal, crackers and wine. Packages of brandy, jellies 
and crackers, furnished by a friend in Philadelphia, were added to 
the assortment. These stores were taken to division hospitals, 
where our men were found, and distributed to them." 

And again he says : 

" On the 5th of July, accompanied by five assistants, a start was 
made for the battle field of Gettysburg, which was reached on the 
morning of the 6th, having traveled twenty-nine miles by wagon 
after leaving the railroad. In these wagons, with stores and two of 
our company in each, we separated for different hospitals. Over the 
whole line of the road the slightly wounded were passing, making 
their way tj the nearest railroad depot, twenty-nine miles distant. 

" Wounds were dressed and dressing furnished during the whole 
day. The suffering on the battle field beggars description, and was 
greatly increased on account of the lack of supplies. 



" We were the first to reach the field, -with stores, and several days 
in advance of the usual medical supplies. Never were visitors more 
welcome, relief never more timely. We parceled out a large quan- 
tity of dressings, shirts, drawers and socks. Several wagon loads of 
provisions were gathered from various sources, suitable for the 
wounded, and were distributed among the needy. Two weeks were 
spent in these hospitals." 

TRANSPORTATION. 

Our agents daily find soldiers who for months have been wasting 
away with disease, or suffering from wounds, and who have received 
no pay, but are furloughed or discharged and without the means of 
getting home. Such men are supplied with our Indiana military 
pass. The gratitude of their hearts, for this favor, knows no bounds. 

Again, a wife, mother or sister seeks some dear friend who has 
been wounded, while fighting for the old flag, but is destitute of the 
means of reaching the desired hospital or camp, where they may 
minister to the sufferer. In such cases we extend the aid of a State 
military ticket. These passes are given to surgeons and nurses, 
hastening to the battle fields or hospitals, also, to Sanitary Agents 
and occasionally to refugees. They are issued with great caution, 
and only to those engaged in charitable offices, to our suffering sol- 
diers, and a few such destitute persons as military necessities has 
driven northward. 

The exact number of these passes issued, up to this time, is as fol- 
lows : Soldiers, 3,053 ; to soldiers', wives, 509 ; to Sanitary Agents, 
339; to nurses, 222; to special surgeons, 106; to Military Agents, 
154 ; to refugees, 109. Total number, 4,542. 

The average cost of these passes to the State will not exceed two 
dollars. 

It is believed that the Federal Government will finally re-imburse 
the State for its outlay, in all these cases, but this question does not 
now enter into the consideration of the subject, for the necessities of 
the hour demand the outlays. 

ATTORNEYS FOR SOLDIERS. 

There has sprung up, all over the country, in every city and town, 
a host of " soldiers' claim agencies," some of them, no doubt, hon- 
estly managed, but many of them organized for the purpose of 
" fleecing " the soldier or his heirs, by exhorbitant charges, by pur- 



9 

chase of claims at enormous discount, or by stealing the entire claim. 
Your instructions to Military Agents to attend to collections, and 
other business of this character, for soldiers, free of charge, is one 
of the greatest blessings you could have conferred upon the soldiers 
and their heirs. One agent cites a number of cases to show how the 
soldiers are swindled. I quote as follows : A soldier writes, " Before 
I left Washington I employed a lawyer to collect my pay, and paid 
him five dollars. It has now been six months, and others, who 
applied at the same time, have long since got their pay. I wrote to 
the lawyer several times, but have got no answer." 

Upon examination this case was found to be a clear swindle. 
Another writes : " I employed some men at the capitol to get my 
bounty, and was to pay them twenty-five dollars." This, of course, 
was an outrageous charge, even if the work should otherwice be done 
honestly. In another case, in which the claimant seemed to have 
some fears that all was not right, it was found, on examination, that 
a certificate for pay had been issued some six months before, but 
certificate and attorney were both gone. These and many similar 
cases of fraud and extortion, show that a great necessity exists for 
the protection you have, in this matter, thrown around the widow 
and orphan of deceased soldiers, as well as the uninformed soldier 
himself. This a ork has greatly increased the labor in the offices of 
all the agencies, and will increase it yet more when the public are 
more generally informed that the Military Agents give attention to 
this business as well as every thing else that can benefit the soldier 
or his friends, free of charge. 

TRANSMISSION OF SOLDIERS' MONEY. 

Thousands of dollars are saved and securely transmitted by the 
soldiers in the field through this channel, to their friends at home. 

The agent at Evansville writes that over one hundred thousand 
dollars have been paid over by him to the families of soldiers which 
has been sent home through the Military Agencies. 

TRANSFER OF SANITARY GOODS. 

In the transfer of sanitary goods, from one point to another in the 
south, Military Agents perform an important service, in promptly 
and efficiently dispatching goods. 



10 



REMOVAL OF SICK AND WOUNDED. 



The Military Agent is considered the soldier's guardian, he is 
always ready to perform any service which may benefit the soldier. 
He assists in conveying the sick and wounded from one depot to 
another or to and from the hotel and steamboat, or from one hospital 
to another where his companions may be. 

The agent at Louisville writes that the ambulance sent him by 
Governor Morton aids admirably in this labor of love. He also says 
that, as his office has been located for so long a time at one place its 
location is well known, and scarcely a night passes but that he is 
called up to render assistance to soldiers or citizens passing through 
that city. 

MEMORIALS OF THE DEAD SENT HOME. 

Memorials of the dead are hunted up, preserved and sent to friends 
at home. These are obtained in various ways, from the hand of the 
dying man or from ids person at burial ; from the company officers 
or from Government sales, if not previously secured. 

Hundreds of knapsacks have been returned to this office through 
the Military Agencies and delivered to anxious friends. Many are 
the applications we have had to obtain, if possible, some keep-sake of 
the patriot dead, and in many instances we have been successful, 
much to our own satisfaction and the unspeakable joy of the recipient. 

Application has been made to the War Department for a general 
order returning to the State Agents the efFects of deceased soldiers, 
instead of selling them at public sale, and we have strong hopes that 
such a humane request will eventually be granted, and then much of 
the difficulty now in the way of obtaining these sacred relics will be 
obviated. 

RECORD OF GRAVES. 

Records are.preserved at each agency, not only of the names and 
regiments of Indiana soldiers who have died at the hospital in the 
vicinity, but also of the place of burial and the number of the grave, 
so that at any time friends may obtain the bodies of their loved and 
lost ones. In the work of shipping bodies home the agent performs a 
kind office for mourning and disconsolate friends. 



11 

WRITING LETTERS FOR SOLDIERS. 

The neglect of furnishing descriptive rolls to the hospital patients 
by their officers, has produced much labor for all our agents in cor- 
respondence. The agent at Evansville writes, that in November T 
" twenty-seven descriptive rolls were written for, and twelve applica- 
tions made for back pay and bounty." 

SOLDIERS iND CITIZENS OF OTHER STATES ASSISTED. 

The benefits of these agencies are not confined exclusively to our 
own State, as cases will arise where humanity demands that soldiers 
of other States shall be assisted. Our Agent at Memphis writes, 
that he has assisted numbers of men from other States. He says, 
** whenever a poor, sick soldier comes to me and asks a pittance to 
aid him in reaching his home and rejoining the friends he loves, 
where northern air and northern scenery may restore to health and 
vigor his wasted frame, if it is in my power to assist, I cannot deny." 
The Agents at Louisville and Nashville write, that it i3 an every day 
occurrance for them to render aid in the way of information and 
otherwise to the soldiers and citizens of other States. 

AID TO FEMALE NURSES. 

Aid rendered to female nurseB sent, from home to the hospitals is 
of vast importance. These self-sacraficing women are met at the 
depot or steamboat landing, and directed to their several fields of 
usefulness, and are encouraged and sustained in their ministrations 
of mercy. The Memphis Agent writes: "As auxiliaries in the 
discharge of the duties of this office, they have rendered me invalu- 
able assistance, but to the sick and wounded soldiers in the wards,, 
their services have been invaluable. Their delicate skill in the prep- 
aration of diets, their watchful attention to the slightest want, their 
words of sympathy and encouragement have made the hospital a 
home ; and in hundreds of instances have quite lured the sufferer 
back from death into life." 

GRATITUDE OF THE SOLDIERS. 

The experience of all the Agents is the same on this point. There 
is a heartfelt thankfulness on the part of the soldier who is aided by 
our efforts. He glories in boasting that he is from Indiana. He 
expresses the most emphatic praise of her noble Governor* The 



12 

•effect of the kind care exercised in behalf of our soldiers, is noticed 
.n the field as well as in the hospital, and a State pride as well as a 
national patriotism swells the soldiers heart and inspires the noblest 
courage and endurance. 

CLOSING ^REMARK. 

The benefits resulting from the establishment of these agencies 
cannot be computed in dollars and cents. An amount of suffering 
impossible to approximate has been prevented and the lives of 
thousands of our brave men have been saved. 

Tne officers of the array are inclined to give paramount import- 
ance to "Army Regulations," and what is not found there is of 
little consequence in their estimation. It has been with no little dif- 
ficulty that the several great charities of the war have been estab- 
lished. 

But the Sanitary, the Freedman's and the Christian Commissions 
have become necessary institutions, and in their respective fields, are 
of incalculable value. The Military Agencies perform a distinctive 
work as philanthropic as any one of the organizations named, and 
while the charity of a generous public sustains the others, the bur- 
dens of this fall equally upon all, and our noble State is crowned 
with the wreath of glory this system has woven. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

WM. HANNAMAN, 
Indiana Military Agent. 



REPORTS OF AGENTS, 



CEICAMAUGA. 

REPORT OF DR. G. W. CLIPPINGER, SEPTEMBER, 1863. 

Gov. 0. P. Morton : 

Sir : I would respectfully submit the following report : 

In obedience with instructions, I left Indianapolis, Ind., on the 
evening of the 21st Sept., 1863, for Chattanooga, Tenn., having in 
company and charge twelve other special surgeons. We arrived at 
Bridgeport Alabama, on the 23d inst. Here Acting Medical Direc- 
tor Surgeon Salter had detailed Drs. Davis, Sparks and Ward, of my 
company, to assist in dressing and forwarding to Nashville the 
wounded arriving from the front. On the 24th inst., we started for 
Chattanooga from Bridgeport, arriving there on the night of the 24th 
inst. As soon as arrived, Dr. Myers, of the 72d Reg't Ind. Vols.,. 
and Dr. Mendenhall, also of my party, were assigned the care of 
some fifty sick cavalrymen. On the morning of the 27th inst., I had 
the honor to report in person to Major General Rosecrans, who 
referred me to his Medical Director, Dr. Perrin. This gentleman 
assured me, that, in consequence of so large a portion of the wounded 
having been sent tc Nashville, our services would not be immediately 
necessary ; but expressed a wish that we should remain until we 
learned if a flag of truce would be entertained, and under it our 
wounded obtained. On the 28th the flag was successful, and some 
two hundred ambulances having been sent early on the morning of 
the 29th inst., I left at the field hospital, Chattanooga, Drs. Fahne- 
stock, Hamilton, Cox, Myers and Ong, they having reported them- 
selves ready for duty if their services were required when the 
wounded arrived from within the^enemy's lines. Having on the 28th 



14 

and 29th visited, as my time admitted, the various division hospitals 
composing the general field hospital of Chattanooga, and having 
obtained from Gen. Rosecrans and Dr. Pen-in a promise to send home 
«.s rapidly as the necessary papers could be made out, our wounded, 
rhat could be sent without injury to them and the service, I left the 
front on my return home, arriving at Indianapolis on the 3d of Octo- 
ber, 1863. 

It is due the Medical officers of the Army of the Cumberland to 
state that they exhibited great energy and dispatch in caring for the 
wounded in their hands, and, as far as practicable, caring for those 
left within the enemy's lines, a large number of surgeons remain- 
ing voluntarily as prisoners to attend upon the wounded left on the 
battle field, retaining for the use of these a reasonable supply of 
the necessary stores. 

Of the 2,865 wounded sent to Bridgeport, a distance of fifty or 
more miles, but one died on the trip. Here they were dressed and 
supplied food, and then proceeded by rail to Nashville. 

The following division hospitals of the general field hospital, oppo- 
site Chattanooga, were severally visited and inspected : 

Wood's division, Surgeon W. W. Blair in charge — Patients 160 

" « " " " *< 6o 

Palmer's " " Sherman " " 153 

3d " " Tailer " " 150 

Besides the above, a number of other hospitals, containing fewer 
patients, were visited, in all of which, I am happy to state, the 
wounded were doing unusually well, and the surgeons in charge were 
unwearying in constant attention to their several charges. The San- 
itary agents, Messrs. Ham, at Louisville, Ky., and Scott, at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., were prompt in rendering what assistance they could in 
hurrying us to the front, and also in forwarding the stores intrusted 
them. My party was the first, by several days, to reach Chatta- 
nooga, and the energy of Capt. Scott secured for his stores prece- 
dence in obtaining transportation. 

The gentlemen composing my party were all that could be desired 
in special surgeons. 

I have the honor to be, 

Your most obedient servant, 

GEO. W. CLIPPINGER. 



15 



WASHINGTON AGENCY. 

REPORT OF REV. J. W. MONTFORT, AGENT, OCT. 1, 1863. 

Washington, D. C, Oct, 1, 1863. 

To His Excellency , 0. P. Morton, 

Governor of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind. : 

Sir: — Monthly reports have heen sent from this office to the 
Department at Indianapolis, excepting for the month of August. I' 
embrace the first opportunity offered to furnish a full return of the 
workings of this agency to this date. 

HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT. 

There have been admitted to hospital, in this city, since the agency 
has come under its present charge, 690 sick and wounded soldiers of 
our State. 

Of these there have died 26 

" been discharged 45 

" left hospital on furlough 54 

" returned to duty 123 

" detailed in hospital 14 

" deserted 6 

" " " " transferred to other hospitals 325 

Yet under treatment 97 



690 



A record is kept of those admitted, for the benefit of friends visit- 
ing here. The hospitals are visited the second and third weeks of 
each month, with reference to supplying the necessities of our men, 
and noting the changes as they occur among them. This work 
devolves upon Mr. Henry P. Lantz, clerk in this office, whose labors 
are worthy of being mentioned with approval. The hospitals of this 
city, as to appointments and management, are all that could be 
desired. No cause of complaint has at any time been found. The 
convalescents are our daily visitors, who gather in to learn the news 
of the army or peruse the home papers. 



16 

OTHER HOSPITALS. 

Beside the register of sick and wounded in hospitals, here, it has 
been found necessary to procure and keep on file lists of Indiana 
soldiers, in eastern hospitals. From these files we draw the follow- 
ing summary : ■ 

Fort Schuyler, N. Y., General Hospital 17 

St. Josephs, " « " 5 

Ladies' Home, New York 3 

Newark, New Jersey, General Hospital 9 

Mower, near Phil., " " 33 

Cuyler, " « " 9 

Nice Town, " " " ..., 13 

SummitHouse, " " " 11 

Broad street, " " " 6 

Filburt " " " " 4 

Satterlee'" " " " 78 

York, Pa., " " 45 

Gettysburg, " " " 46 

Alexandria, Va., " " 26 

Fairfax, " " " 9 

Annapolis, Md., " " 63 

St. John's, " " " 9 

Camp Lattaman, Gettysburg, Pa., General Hospital 37 

McKim, Baltimore, Md., " " 7 

Jarvis, " " " " 16 

West's Building, " " " " 2 

Camden street, " " " " 11 

Newton University, " " «< " 8 

Patterson Park, " " " " 12 

Total 479 

These reports are to Sept. 1, 1863. Of these some have returned 
to duty, some have been furloughed and a few have died. It is not 
to be expected that all the changes occurring in these hospitals can 
be known here, as it is only to furnish a starting point for inquiry, 
that files are kept. Being in correspondence with these hospitals, 
however, there need be but little delay in tracing any one whose name 
appears upon the lists in this office. 



17 

CONVALESCENT CAM1\ 

i 

Frequent complaints having been made by our soldiers, in conva- 
lescent camp, near Alexandria, Va., in regard to their treatment, 
several visits have been made, to inquire after the causes of these 
complaints. Nothing was brought to light which could have justified 
the entering of charges or a complaint against the military command- 
ant, but more recently these complaints have increased, and the mat- 
ter has been brought to the notice of Col. Hoffman, Commissary of 
parolled prisoners. My acquaintance with this officer justifies the 
belief that " if there is a wrong it will be righted." 

Convalescents and parolled prisoners have more time for com- 
plaints than other soldiers. The former feel that the days of conva- 
lescence ought to be spent at home, the latter that their parole might 
be. For these reasons they are restless* 

SANITARY. 

The supply of sanitary stores has been well kept up. Every order 
upon the office at Indianapolis has been promptly met. The goods 
have been serviceable and come in good condition. 

CIIANCELLORSVILLEs 

After the battle of Chancellorsvilie, several packages were taken 
to the front and distributed among our wounded. The assortment 
consisted of dressings, shirts, drawers, socks, towels, fruit, corn meal, 
crackers and wine. Two packages of brandy, Jellies and 

crackers, furnished me by a friend in Philadelphia, were added to the 
assortment. These stores were taken to division hospitals, where 
our men were found, and distributed to them. In only one division 
hospital was there a surgeon from our State, in which case the stores 
were put into his charge and receipt taken. The supply of dressings, 
at one time, shortly after the battle of Chancellorsvilie, being very 
small, a lot was furnished one of the hospitals here, by request. 

GETTYSBURG. 

On the 5th of July, accompanied by five assistants, a start was 
made for the battle field of Gettysburg, which was reached on the 
morning of the 6th, having traveled by wagon 29 miles, after leaving 
the railroad. 

In these wagons, with two of our company and stores in each, we 
•■separated with instructions as to the corps hospitals they were respect- 

I. M. A. R.— 2 



19 

ively to visit. Over the whole line of the road the slightly wounded 
were passing, making their way to the nearest railroad depot, 29 
miles distant. Wounds were dressed and dressings furnished during 
the whole day. The suffering, upon the battle field, beggars descrip- 
tion, and was greatly increased ojj account of the lack of supplies. 

We were the first to reach the field with sanitary stores, and sev- 
eral days in advance of the usual medical supply. Never were visit- 
ors more welcome, relief never more timely. Dressings were par- 
celled out to hundreds, and there can be no doubt that lives were 
saved by this timely visitation. Besides a large quantity of dress- 
ings about one hundred, each, of shirts and drawers, were supplied, 
and fifty pairs of socks. Several wagon loads of provisions were 
gathered from various sources, consisting of light bread, soda crack- 
ers, beef, mutton, chickens, butter, eggs, potatoes, &c, and were 
carried to the hospitals in which our wounded were. Two week:-' 
were spent in these hospitals. Could the " God bless you," of the 
wounded and dying, whose necessities were met in the distribution of 
our supplies, be echoed throughout the length and breadth of our 
State, there would follow such an ingathering of contributions as 
would require an order (novel in these days,) from our sanitary chief: 
" Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the ofFerini' 
of the Sanctuary. So the people were restrained from giving." 

For a more detailed account of this visit, reference may be had tc 
the report furnished your excellency about the 1st of August. 

DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE OFFICE. 

Distributions have been made as follows : 

Shirts , 225 

Drawers, pairs 142 

Socks, pairs 161 

Towels 72 

Handkerchiefs 56 

Wine, bottles 40 

Fruits, cans 40 

Besides these, there have been distributed dried apples, fans am! 
slippers, &c. 

A record is kept of the articles given out, with the name of the 
soldier, his regiment and hospital. In the semi-monthly visits to the 
hospitals, the wants of our soldiers are inquired after. If anything 
is needed by them, the articles are furnished and marked on our 



19 

books as distributed by the person carrying them. The name of the 
hospital, number of ward, and number of bed are furnished to the 
distributor before starting. So far as is known, there has been no 
misdirection of goods. The work in the hospitals is well system- 
atized. 

INFORMATION. 

This office has become a military intelligence office for the State. 
Located at the seat of Government, and recognized in the different 
departments, by order of the Secretary of War, every facility is fur- 
nished for the furtherance of any interest of persons at home. 

Letters are frequently received from the homes of soldiers, asking 
information in regard to them, which cannot be had in the regiments. 
Transferred from one hospital to another, they are lost sight of in 
the regiments ; or, wounded in battle, have fallen into a corps hospi- 
tal, remote from their own. In several cases the missing have been 
found. 

PAROLED PRISONERS. 

For a while a register was kept of our parolled prisoners, but the 
.imount of labor connected with this particular work was so great, 
and the office of the Commissary of Parolled Prisoners being at 
hand, and accessible, where information could be obtained at any 
time, it was deemed unnecessary to continue keeping a record. 
Money and packages of clothing are frequently received from their 
hands for prisoners of war in Richmond. No difficulty has been 
experienced as yet in sending small packages, properly directed and 
pre-paid, to our men in Richmond, Va., through Gen. Meredith, Gov- 
ernment Agent for the Exchange of Prisoners. 

4 

MEMENTOES. 

Another duty devolving upon the office is, hunting up mementoes of 
the dead. The effects of deceased soldiers are sold and the pro- 
ceeds entered to their credit, to be paid to their heirs upon final set- 
tlement of their accounts. But mementoes such as pictures, 
rings, and other keepsakes are sent to the Second Auditor of the 
Treasury Department, to be reclaimed by friends. The following 
extract from a letter, is a sample of others upon this subject fre- 
quently received at this office. 



20 
"Dear Sir: My son, C. E. K., was a member of Co. K, 



Ind. Vols., and died at Vicksburg, on the 30th of July, 1862. He 
had in his possession a silver detatchcd lever watch, hunting case. I 
sent to Vicksburg for it, and learned that I would have to send to 
Washington. You will confer a great favor by preventing its being 
sold. I want a memento from him, and will bear any expense in 
procuring it." 

We are often able to trace these little keepsakes of the heart, and 
return them to relatives. 

OUR DEAD. 

Reports have been furnished, giving the number and names of our 
soldiers who have died in this city, their burial place, with the num- 
ber of the grave. This information may prove of some interest and 
value in after years. 

CLAIMS. 

The policy which it was your pleasure to inaugurate in regard to 
the collection of claims growing out of the war — without expense to 
claimants, is one which seems to have commended itself to all. It 
has been gratifying to learn, from the frequent notices of this policy 
as found in almost all our public prints, that it is received with favor. 

That your Excellency should have instituted this measure is highly 
gatifying to your friends. The agent of Ohio has issued a circular, 
setting forth the justice of this cause, and is urging its adoption in 
that State. 

I was informed by the Agent of New York that the Adj't. General 
of that State recommended it, and thought it would be adopted in 
that State. But whatever may be the approval or disapproval, it is 
but justice to the widow and orphan, and to them a most acceptable 
way of expressing sympathy. There might be furnished from letters 
in this office abundant testimony of the wisdom and necessity for 
some such arrangement as Indiana has entered upon in this matter. 

The following extracts will exhibit somewhat the propriety of this 
policy: 

" Sir : Pardon me if you call this intrusion. I wish to gain in- 
formation in regard to the affairs of my deceased husband. I was an 
orphan before marriage, and now I am left friendless. I have no 
one left to depend upon or to advise me what way to proceed. I 



21 

wish to get what is justly due me, and if it is possible to get along 
without an attorney, I wish to do it — that would be expensive. I 
wrote to the captain of his company in regard to his affairs, but can 
not get an answer. My husband received no pay." 

Another writes : 

"Sir: Before I left Washington I employed a lawyer to collect 
my pay, and paid him $5 00. It has now been six months, and 
others get their pay. I wrote several times to him and he does not 
write me." 

The above case was a swindle. 

Another writes : 

" I employed some men in Columbus, Ohio, to get my bounty and 
was to pay them $25 00." 

In another case in which the claimant seemed to have some fears 
that all was not right, it was found on examination, that a certificate 
for pay had been issued some six months before, but certificate and 
attorney were both gone. 

These are given as specimen cases — a volume might be filled from 
our varieties. 

There is evidently a necessity that the uninformed should have 
pointed out to them the method of securing their dues, and that the 
interests of widows and orphans, so great in the aggregate, should 
have some safeguard and protection. 

This work has greatly increased the labor in this office, as our 
postage account will show. The postage of the office in March was 
$3 35 ; for August $20 57. Back pay and bounty has been col- 
lected for about three hundred soldiers; commutation of rations, 
while prisoners of war, for one hundred ; company savings to the 
amount of $3,000. One hundred and seventeen applications for 
bounty and pensions for widows and orphans and other heirs have 
been filed in their respective departments. 

PAY FOR HORSES. 

The rule in the office of the Third Auditor of the Treasury De- 
partment, in regard to horses lost in battle, bears heavily upon the 
members of our 3d cavalry, who furnished their own horses. That 
order is, that the commanders of companies shall keep an account of 
losses, and enter them upon the muster-out-roll of the soldier. At 
the time of discharge he receives pay for his horse. When a horse 
has been killed, the soldier supplied himself with another captured 



22 

from the enemy, or drawn from the Quartermaster, in either case 
taking him at an appraised value. This amount is deducted from 
his next pay. Some of the brave men of the 3d cavalry have lost 
as many as four horses each, which they replace from their own 
earnings, and thus are compelled to become creditors to the govern- 
ment, to the amount of &400 or $500. Should the records of com- 
panies be lost, all is gone, or should the soldier die, his heirs must 
await the necessarily slow operations of the department, before in- 
demnity can be obtained. The evidence of loss is as complete at the 
time, as it can possibly be at any subsequent one, and the necessity 
and justice of our early settlement of such claims is quite apparent. 

I would respectfully ask in behalf of this interest your attention, 
and that an effort be made to have the order upon this subject so 
changed, as that compensation in these cases may be had more 
promptly. 

As this Agency is purely benevolent in its design and operation, 
as well in the collection of claims and furnishing information, as in 
ministering to the wants of our suffering soldiers, a suggestion is re- 
spectfully offered, whether it might not with propriety be adopted as 
the protege of the Indiana State Sanitary Commission. 
Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

J. W. MONFORT, 
Indiana Military Agent. 



CAPT. H. B. HILL'S REPORT. 

ME TRIP TO MEMPHIS, TENN., OCTOBER 27, 1863. 

Indianapolis, Oct. 27, 1863. 

Governor 0. P. Morton : 

In accordance with your instructions I left here on the 1st. inst.. 
and stopped at Cairo, visited the hospital there, but found but four 
Indiana soldiers there ; they appeared to be well cared for, two of 
them were nearly ready to return to duty, the other two will not 
soon, if ever, rejoin their comrades. I then went to Memphis, 
where I learned that nearly all the Indiana regiments that were at 
Vicksburg were on their way up the river and I awaited their arrival. 
I visited the 25th, 83d and 89th regiments that were there then ; the 
men were in good health and were well supplied generally. The 83d 



23 

was not well off for Surgeons as the principal had resigned, the first 
assistant on detailed duty, the second was sick at home, and the 
regiment had a detail from some other regiment. 

I visited, in company with Dr. Jobes, the hospitals of Memphis 
and found them in fine condition, there is quite a large number of 
our men there; they seemed to be doing well generally, and said 
they were cared for. Herewith find a list of all the Indiana soldiers 
in hospital at Memphis. 

The 12th, 97th, 99th and 100th regiments arrived from below and 
were ordered forward on the line of the Memphis and Charleston 
Railroad, and on the 11th inst. I started and stayed at Colleeville 
where I found the 66th regiment, and w&s there at the battle of that 
lay, all behaved well, and the enemy withdrew without doing us 
much harm, i left them, and at Lagrange I found the 83d regiment, 
and from some cause a good many of the men had been taken sick, 
since they left Memphis, with chills and fever; a few cases of other 
diseases. I then went to Corinth and visited the hospital there, the 
accommodation is not good as there is no building suitable for the 
purpose and tents are used instead; here the 83d, 12th, 97th, 99th 
and 100th regiments pass me. I then went to Iuka, where I found 
the 48th and 59th regiments, and they were being paid off. I stayed 
and received of the men what money they wished to send home ; the 
97th and 9$ith came up and were paid, and I received what money 
they wished to send home. I then returned to Burnville, where the 
12th and 100th regiments were paid, and I received of the 100th 
regiment what they wished to send. I did not receive any from the 
12th, as I learned the men had made a contract to get new uniforms 
in this city instead of through the Q. M. Department. I then started 
for this city where I arrived at 7 o'clock P. M., yesterday, three 
days from Iitka, Miss. I have placed all the money, about $40,000, 
In the Express office to be forwarded to the proper destination. 

Your Agent, Dr. Jobes, at Memphis, I found very efficient, and 
doing much good. I think if a suitable arrangement can be made 
with the U. S. Sanitary Commission by our State Sanitary Commis- 
sion, much expense could be avoided and our effects in that direction 
be quite as efficient. From what I saw, I am satisfied that great 
advantage to the sick and wounded is derived by having lady nurses 
in the hospitals, as well as a large saving of sanitary supplies, and I 
wish to urge this upon our Sanitary Commission. 

I am yours truly, 

II. B. HILL; 



24 



EVANSVILLE AGENCY. 

REPORT OF P. HORNBROOK, AGENT, FOR 1863 AND 1864. 

To His Excellency, Gov. 0. P. Morton : 

Sir: — Believing that it is the duty of every one, entrusted with 
public business, to make full report of his work, so that all may read 
and know, I herewith make the following : 

On the 7th day of January, 1863, you appointed me to fill the- 
position of Military Agent at this post. How far I have done my 
duty, I leave to our brave soldiers, who through the vicissitudes of 
war, have been placed in our hospitals at this post, and their rela- 
tives and friends to say. 

Your instructions were full, and the labor set forth arduous. 

JANUARY, 1863. 

I at once went into the work, and with the help of my assistant, 
Mr. E. Newbury, took and recorded a complete list of Indiana sol- 
diers, in a book provided by you for that purpose; and in one pro- 
vided by myself, made record of all Union troops from other States. 

I found in hospitals 1, 2, 3 and 4, 256 Indianians, representing 56 
regiments and batteries, and 239 representing Ohio, Illinois, Ken- 
tucky, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylva- 
nia, Tennessee, and IT. S. Regulars, total 504. Wishing to do all 
the good I could, I addressed you on the propriety of corresponding 
with the Governors of Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, 
Wisconsin and Minnesota, proposing to furnish them with monthly, 
or semi-monthly reports of the condition of troops from their States, 
asking them to pay the clerical labor only. Not one of these gen- 
tlemen responded to my communication. Nevertheless, whatever 
could be done for the soldiers, without regard to State lines, has 
been done. 

On the 17th of this month, the steamer "Undine," loaded with 
sick and wounded, was furnished with sanitary stores and medicines. 

The battle of Stone River, fought on the last of December, and 
the 1st of this month, had filled the hospital at Murfreesboro and 
Nashville with wounded, and amongst them a large number of Indi- 
ana's sons; and during the whole of this month, my office was 
thronged, upon the arrival of the 9:30 P. M. train, with fathers and 



25 

brothers, seeking information as to the best mode of travel to those 
points to which they were going, to minister to the wants of their 
suffering relatives. To all such I gave advice as to the best route, 
and letters to Post Commandants along the Ohio and Cumberland 
Rivers, and to your Agent at Nashville, requesting them to render 
aid if required. On the 26th, Mr. W. Patterson, with several lady 
.nurses, came through on their way to Paducah, Ky., and Mound 
City, Illinois," taking with them sanitary stores for the sick and 
wounded in hospital at the above points. I rendered them all the aid 
I could, sending them on their mission of mercy, and adding to their 
supply of sanitary stores such articles as were needed. During this 
month there were 251 Indianians admitted into hospital at this post, 
representing 56 regiments. 

FEBRUARY, 1863. 

From the 1st to the 19th of February, the stream of sanitary 
stores was in constant flow for Nashville and out-posts, in lots of 
from five to sixty packages, in charge of persons selected by the 
donors. For all these, transportation had to be furnished, and I 
will here remark that the thanks of this State are due to Capt. F. H. 
Ehrman, A. Q. M. at this post, for the kindness, promptness, and 
courtesy with which he aided me in forwarding supplies and agents. 
During this month, the Ohio Sanitary steamers, " Ohio No. 3," and 
" Groesbeck," were furnished with sanitary stores and medicines, 
needed on their upward trip. On the 23d, Mr. Geo. Merritt, of In- 
dianapolis, with twenty-five lady nurses, and twenty surgeons, and 
Capt. A. Atkinson, in charge of sanitary stores, left here on the 
steamer " Capitol a." From the agency, Mr. Merritt was furnished 
with stationery, and supplied with sanitary stores needed, by contri- 
bution of our citizens. His able report made to you, gave a good 
account of his stewardship. 

Friends of deceased soldiers, and soldiers who had been discharged, 
were by blood-suckers, in this vicinity, robbed, (I cannot call it any- 
thing else,) in the exhorbitant charges made for collecting back pay 
and bounty, all of which I represented to you, and asked your aid to 
prevent it if possible. 

By your advice and commission, as a Notary Public, Mr. E. New- 
berry, my assistant, entered upon this duty, and I am pleased to say. 
collected claims at fair and honest rates. 

During this month sixty-five Indianians were admitted into hospi- 
tal at this post, representing twenty-five regiments. 



26 

MARCH, 1863. 

March was to me a very busy month. On the 7th one hundred 
and six barrels of vegetables were sent to this point by Wm. Ilanna- 
raan, the efficient President of the State Sanitary Commission, to be 
shipped to Nashville, and on the 17th thirteen packages for Mem- 
phis ; all of which were transported on Government steamers free 
of charge. During this month thirty Indianians, representing 
twelve regiments and batteries, were admitted into general hospitals 
at this post. Descriptive rolls were obtained, and aid rendered in 
procuring discharges ; letters given to citizens of this and other 
States, visiting their relatives in hospitals at Memphis and other 
points. 

APRIL, 1863. 

On April 4th, 106 barrels and boxes of sanitary stores were 
received at this post for Memphis ; on the 6th, 11 boxes for the GOth 
Reg't Ind. Vols. ; on the 8th, 109 packages sanitary goods for 
Memphis ; on the 8th two car loads for Vicksburg ; on the loth 3 2-k 
packages; on the 14th, 100 packages; on the 16th, 120 ; and on 
the 22d, 23 packages for the same destination. 

On the 24th, the steamer " Lady Franklin," in charge of Col. I ' 
J. Woods, and Capt. A. Atkinson, in charge of sanitary stores and 
eleven lady nurses, left this post for Memphis. On the 29th, another 
lot of sanitary stores, sent by donors, were forwarded to same point. 

During this month, 15 Indianians, representing four regiments, 
were admitted into hospitals at this post. Furloughs, transfers and 
discharges were procured, and the usual number of letters in answer 
to inquiries of friends as to the condition of sick and wounded ones ; 
effects of deceased soldiers sent home, making no distinction as to 
States ; and here let me thank the Evansville and Wabash Tele- 
graph Company for their promptness in sending all sanitary tele- 
grams free of charge. 

may, 1863. 

On May 11th, 111 packages, on the 18th, one car load, and on the 
22d, 44 packages were received from Indianapolis, and were shipped 
on the last date to Nashville, on the propellor "Gov. O. P. Morton." 
On the 26th, the steamer "Courier" was chartered to go to Vicks- 
burg, in charge of State Quartermaster General A. Stone. A large 
quantity of sanitary stores were shipped, one item of which was six 



27 

tons of lake ice. The lamented Dr. Bullard was in charge of the 
medical department, accompanied by several lady nurses and sur- 
geons. On the 29th, the steamer " Atlantic" was chartered ; a large 
lot of sanitary stores gathered at this point, and six and one-half 
tons of lake ice were shipped, the boat and stores being in charge of 
Capt. W. C. French, of this city, and the medical department under 
charge of Dr. G. Grant, Medical Director at this post. Of the relief 
afforded, and wounded brought to hospitals in this city, you have been 
apprised by the reports of these gentlemen. From this date until 
the return of the steamers, the citizens of our noble State poured in 
their contributions for the relief of the sick and wounded. During 
this month there were 13 Indianians, representing seven regiments, 
admitted to hospital at this post. 

june, 1863. 

On June 4th, I was advised that another steamer would be sent 
from this post; on the 17th, I received one car load sanitary stores; 
on the 22d, one, and on the 29th, one. On the latter date the 
steamer " City Belle," in charge of Gen. A. Stone, was started with 
the stores, including six tons of ice. Surgeons and nurses in the 
usual number, accompanied the expedition. In the early part of this 
month, 265 Indianians, representing 41 regiments, were received in 
hospital at this post. 

july, 1863. 

In July there was much done ; 50 Indianians, wounded, represent- 
ing sixteen regiments, were received in hospital here. Almost 
every man received in June and this month, were without descrip- 
tive rolls, and all were anxious to procure them in time for the Pay- 
master. Through the agency of the Adjutant Generals of Ohio, 
Kentucky and Indiana, I procured rolls for troops from those States. 

august, 1863. 

From the 1st to the 16th of August, preparations were made to 
send another sanitary boat to Vicksburg. Three carloads of sanitary 
stores were received from Indianapolis, and a quantity collected and 
purchased here, which, with eight and one-quarter tons of lake ice, 
were shipped on the steamer " Sunny Side," and on Sunday, the 
16th, she left this post in charge of Mr. Putman, with Dr. Wishard 
in charge of medical department. As you are aware, the boat could 



28 

not return to this post, on account of the lowncss of the river, and 
the sick and wounded were debarked at Cairo, and forwarded t( 
Indianapolis by railroad ; after which several were transferred to hos- 
pital at this post. During this month, 25 Indianians were received 
in hospital, representing ten regiments. 

SEPTEMBER, 1863. 

During the month of September many sanitary stores were for 
warded to commands adjacent to this post, and the usual quantity oi 
letters of inquiry received and answered. Efforts were made, as yoi 
are aware, to have our sick and wounded brought here from Louis- 
ville, Ky. I know that army officers, and some of our volunteer sur 
geons, say that the removal of sick and wounded near to their home; 
is an injury rather than a good, and that men, wounded or sick, ar< 
better off, away from home, than near to it. My experience is tha 
these gentlemen are far from practicing what they preach, and then 
are none of the human family more ready to receive the kind office; 
of a mother, wife or sister than they. Their practice teaches m( 
that the kindly hands of women do much to alleviate suffering. 

OCTOBER, 1863. 

On October 9th, 123 Indianians, representing 43 regiments ant 
batteries, were recived in hospital at this post, mostly from Louisville 
Ky., and hardly any with descriptive rolls. The change of locality 
was evidently grateful to the men, and the observer could plainly see 
" nearer home " written in their faces. 

DEATHS. 

On the 1st of this month I gathered statistics of the number o: 
men admitted to hospital, and the number of deaths, at this post, foi 
the ten months preceding, and the result was truly gratifying, onh 
one oat of seventy. This certainly speaks well for our medical corps 

NOVEMBER, 1863. 

The Cumberland river having risen, early in November, I fel 
anxious, as you are aware, to have our wounded and sick transferrec 
from Nashville, Tenn., to this post, and promises have been made tc 
you that this should be done, the order having been issued, but up to 
this date (Nov. 30th,) not one has been received. During this montli 
four car loads of sanitary stores have been received, here, for oui 



29 

army on the lower Mississippi, and two hundred dozens of canned 
fruits were purchased, at this place, for sanitary purposes. 

DESCRIPTIVE ROLLS. 

I have kept a partial record of descriptive rolls, obtained for sol- 
diers here, and when I place the number at six hundred I know that 
I am below the mark. From officers in the field I have received 
prompt replies, and, in almost every instance, the blank roll for- 
warded from this agency has been filled and returned. But I do 
complain of the action, or non-action, of those shoulder strapped M. 
D.'s who have charge of hospitals. In a majority of cases they have 
refused to forward the descriptive rolls to me, and thus have sub- 
verted the justice of our Government. Little do some of these M. 
D.'s care how much a poor soldier's family needs the pay of their 
relative to procure the necessaries of life. 

My report may be too lengthy, and you may think that I should 
only have treated of the matter directly connected with a Military 
Agency, but I cannot seperate the Sanitary Commission from it, 
having found that it is an essential part, in fact, the two are blended 
together, and, seperated, do not work out that good that they will do 
when connected. 

From the medical corps and military authorities, at this post, I 
have received nothing but kindness, and all have evinced a willing- 
ness to assist me in carrying out your wishes. 
* . P. HORNBROOK, 

Military Agent for Indiana. 

Evansville, Nov. 20, 1863. 



DECEMBER, 1863. 

Early in this month, (December, 1863,) it was determined to send 
a sanitary boat to New Orleans, to call at all points where Indiana 
troops were stationed, and distribute sanitary stores to them. Eight 
car loads were received at this post, to be forwarded. On the 
14th, Mr. Hannaman dispatched as follows : " Can a small boat be 
chartered ? " Being answered in the negative, the steamer " City 
Bell," was chartered at Cincinnati, and sent on this mission of 
mercy — leaving this post on the 20th, well freighted with stores ; 
one thousand three hundred and forty-one (1341) packages having 



30 

been shipped at this point, in addition to what had been placed on 
her above, carrying, also, nurses and surgeons. 

More than the usual number of descriptive rolls were sent for, 
sanitary stores were sent to hospitals at Paducah, money waa re- 
ceived from soldiers in the field and paid over to their families 
bodies of deceased soldiers were sent for from Tennessee, and trans- 
portation furnished to wives and mothers of soldiers, who had been 
to visit their sick and wounded husbands and sons. 

JANUARY, 1864. 

I stated in the early part of this report, that I had placed myself 
in correspondence with the Governors of adjacent States, with a hope 
that this agency might render greater good to their soldiers, and on 
the 12th of this month, (January, 1864,) I received a communication 
from Gov. Blair, of Michigan, saying that Michigan had an Agent 
at Louisville, Ky., and that Evansville was in his district, and wished 
me to say to Michigan troops, that they could communicate with him, 
and he would visit them. I mention this fact to show that much 
misery could have been alleviated, had Gov. Blair constituted your 
Agent here, to act for his State, and this will apply to other States 
with equal force. During this month, I purchased two hundred and 
twenty-seven (227) barrels of dried apples, for the use of our armies 
in Tennessee and Alabama. On the 28th, I shipped to Nashville 
fifty (50) barrels of dried apples, and one hundred and forty-six 
(146) barrels of potatoes. 

The number of letters of inquiry from persons who had friends in 
hospital at this post increase, and their visits decrease in proportion, 
thus saving great expense to the people. 

FEBRUARY, 1864. 

During February, two car loads of sanitary stores were received 
from Indianapolis, and these, with stoies received here, were shipped 
to Nashville, for the use of our soldiers with Sherman. The amount 
forwarded is as follows : Two hundred and eighteen (218) barrels 
of fruit and vegetables, thirty-one (31) kegs of krout and pickles, 
and one hundred and ninety-nine (199) boxes of fruit, clothing, &c. 

It does seem to me strange, that officers, commandants of compa- 
nies, should suffer the men under their command, when sent to hos- 
pital, to leave them without descriptive rolls — the carelessness shown 
in this matter is without excuse ; the men suffer in mind, and their 



families want, or are thrown on the charity of friends. In the early 
part of this war, I abhorred red tape and constant reference to the 
regulations, but I am convinced that if our officers would observe 
both more closely, great suffering would be averted. 

march, 1864. 

In the first part of this month, (March,) you convened a State 
Sanitary Convention at Indianapolis, and I am glad to know I was 
there. There were not many sanitary goods forwarded from this 
point during this month, but more than the usual number of calls for 
descriptive rolls. 

Toward the latter part of this month considerable sums of money 
were received from the front, and paid over to the families of sol- 
diers who sent it. This agency had been supplied with the various 
blank forms, for collecting back pay and bounty due deceased sol- 
diers, also blanks for applicatian for pensions, and without fee, these 
claims were made out and forwarded to your Agent in Washington 
City for collection; here then was another saving of expense to the 
relatives of dead heroes. 

APRIL, 1804. 

Navigation being good, the Cumberland River was again made the 
channel of transit for sanitary goods. Ninety-eight (98) packages 
were received from Indianapolis and forwarded to Nashville during 
this month, (April.) 

Our hospitals were pretty well filled, and on every arrival of pa- 
tients, the request was, " will you obtain my descriptive list?" Sol- 
diers discharged at this post, and living in the border counties, had 
their back pay collected through this agency. This was brought 
about by a conference with the Paymasters at Indianapolis, in which 
Mr. Ilannaman bore a conspicuous part. By this arrangement the 
soldier was saved the out lay of transportation and other consequent 
expenses. 

may, 1864. 

On the 11th of this month (May), one hundred and ten (110) 
packages of sanitary stores were shipped to this post from Indianap- 
olis, to be sent to Nashville, Term., which was done on the 17th ; and 
on the 26th, one hundred and six (106) packages were received from 
the same point, and forwarded on the 29th to Nashville. 



32 

The battle of Resaca, in which Indiana troops bore so conspicuous 
a part, brought numbers of persons to our agency, some to inquire for 
their friends, others to go to the front to look after their wounded 
ones, and then many who wished to make the same journey, to bring 
home the remains of their loved ones. 

This was a month of labor, but it was done cheerfully. 

•TUNE, 1864. 

Transfers from this to other hospitals having been made, we were 
prepared to receive our sick and wounded from Georgia, and your 
agents at other points were advised of our condition, asking that the 
wounded be sent here. Mr. Ilannaman urged the proper officers to 
do so, and at length we received one hundred and fifty (150). 

On the 11th of this month (June) eighty-five (85) packages of 
sanitary stores were forwarded to this point from Indianapolis, and 
on the 26th, they were shipped hence to Nashville. On the 15th, 
five (5) of our dead, late members of the 80th Regiment, were 
received through your agencies. On the 28th, one hundred and 
thirty-one (131) packages of sanitary stores were received from 
Indianapolis, and forwarded to Nashville Thus ended the month of 
June. 

july, 1864. 

The hospitals at this post have been, for a year past, supplied with 
sanitary stores by the people of this region, and the gathering them 
in has been no small part of our labor. 

Applications for back pay and bounty, also, for pensions, increase 
until those who have been sucking the life-blood of our widows and 
orphans complain of our, to them, wrong. The claim agent's voca- 
tion is gone here, or it is of such small amount that they do not 
make their bread with the blood of those who have protected them 
and theirs. The usual call for descriptive rolls is still made, and the 
< agent has to write to remind those of a duty which they ought not 
to neglect. 

AUGUST, 1864. 

The 12th of this month (August), I received the corpse of Colonel 
Hodge, 65th Indiana — a brave soldier gone to his long home. The 
military agent may think his work done, but my experience teaches 
me, that there is always some poor fellow who needs advice or assist- 
ance. 



'33 

The sanitary goods were received for shipment this month, hut 
there was much done which would be difficult to enumerate in a 
report like this. 

The sameness of month after month, would not interest the rea4- 
ers ; but that work was done, I have only to refer to our soldiers in 
hospital to prove the fact. 

I could introduce statistics which would please some ; but the work 
was done, and you, Governor, have the credit for your forethought in 
the establishing of agencies for the aid of the soldier. 

SEPTEMBER, 1864. 

Early in this month (September) the soldiers in hospital began to 
■express anxiety as to the probability of being furloughed home, so 
that they might enjoy the right of franchise. Steps were taken by 
the proper authorities to have this done, and on the 22d, orders were 
received by the Medical Director to furlough for fifteen (15) days. 

Applications for back pay and bounty, also for pensions, were fre- 
quent, and for this and a thousand other matters which the soldier 
and his friends feel interested in, your agent was called upon to 
attend to. No one but a Military Agent knows how often and urgent 
these calls are, and if any one in the land should pray for peace that 
one should be the agent. 

OCTOBER, 1864. 

During the month of October our hospitals were pretty well 
thinned out, for it will be remembered that, on the 15th, orders were 
received from the Secretary of War to extend furloughs of furloughed 
soldiers to November 10th, so that they could vote at the Presidential 
election. 

The latter part of September, or a portion of it, was used for the 
purpose of urging our poople to contribute to the State Sanitary 
Fair, and how they responded the records of the Fair will show. From 
the 3rd to the 8th of October was devoted to the Fair, and I doubt 
not our sick and wounded will feel the goodness of our people. 

During this month twenty-two (22) applications for back pay, 
bounty and pensions were made. Had claim agents done this work, 
it would have cost the soldiers, or their relatives, at least two hun- 
dred and twenty dollars ($220). Descriptive rolls and transfers were 
applied for, and, I am glad to state, were obtained more readily than 
heretofore. 

I. M. A. R.— 3 



34 

NOVEMBER, 1864. 

November was commenced in quietness, but on the return of the 
soldiers from their homes they soon made their wants manifest. 
Twenty-seven (27) descriptive rolls were written for and twelve (12) 
applications made for back pay and bounty. 

The army under Gen. Thomas having been paid off, members of 
regiments, whose homes are in this vicinity, sent their money to your 
agent to be handed, by him, to their families. Since this agency has 
been established, more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) 
have been paid over. On the 28th three hundred and fifty-one (351) 
■patients were brought from Nashville, and this addition fills our hos- 
pitals. Of this number fifty-one (51) were Indiana men. Many of 
the sick and wounded were very low. 

For general information I append the subjoined report of the hos- 
pital, at this post, for the year ending September 30, 1864, of which. 
as a Hoosier, I feel proud. 

Report of the United States Army General Hospital at Uvansville, 
Ind., for the year ending Sept. 30, 1864. 














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In writing a report two objects should be kept in view, namely, 
first, a statement of facts, and, secondly, to render it in such a style 
as would induce all to read, for all are interested. The first I have 
done, and it remains to time and the public to verify the latter. 

P. HORN BROOK, 

Indiana Military Agent, 
Evansville, Nov. 30, 1864. 



35 



MEMPHIS AGENCY. 

REPORT OF DR. GEO. 0. JOBES, AGENT, FOR 1863 AND 1804. 

In December, 1862, Dr. R. Bosworth, who had rendered impor- 
tant service as a traveling agent, was authorized to establish ar. 
" Indiana Military Agency" at Memphis, Tenn. 

He reached that place on the 12th day of the month, secured an 
office in a convenient part of the city, and immediately entered upou 
his duties. 

At that time there were many sick at Memphis, for whose care 
and comfort no adequate provision had been made ; and, in forward- 
ing the interests and providing for the many wants of those belong- 
ing to our State, the Doctor labored with great energy and useful- 
ness, until his health was so impaired that he was compelled to 
resign. 

He was succeeded by Dr. John H. Spurrier ; and in the latter parr 
of February, Mr. Geo. H. Merritt and Dr. J. Brower, who were in 
charge of sanitary stores and a corps of nurses and surgeons for 
different points on the Mississippi, seeing how arduous Dr. Spur- 
rier's labors were, and that his health, too, was failing, detailed Mr. 
•Tames H. Turner and Dr. John E. McGaughey to assist him. 

On the 2d day of March, 1863, I was ordered to relieve Dr. Spur- 
rier as agent in charge, and to retain him and such other assistance 
as might be necessary. I arrived here on the 6th, and since then the 
office has remained in my charge. 

Mr. Turner remained with me only until the 14th of March, and 
Dr. Spurrier until the 31st. Dr. McGaughey continued to assist me 
until the latter part of the July following, when he, too, was com- 
pelled to leave on account of failing health. These gentlemen all 
rendered me essential service during their stay, and many a soldier 
will cherish a grateful remembrance of their kindness. 

Since Dr. McGaughey left me, no assistance has been required, 
except a detailed soldier, who was unable for field duty. 

By advice and personal solicitation, those who have served in this 
office have endeavored to ameliorate the condition of the soldiers and 
their friends who were visiting them. By assistance and encourage- 
ment to female nurses, they have done much to provide the sick and 
wounded with tender and skillful care. By the judicious distribu- 
tion of sanitary supplies, the comforts of the sick and wounded have 
been increased. By the disbursement of small sums of money, the 



36 

pressing wants of many destitute soldiers have been relieved ; and 
hundreds have been enabled to go to their homes on furlough who could 
not otherwise have done so, and, in this way, no doubt, numbers of 
valuable lives have been saved. And, finally, it is believed that this 
agency, by furnishing information, through correspondence and 
through reports to the office of the General Agency at Indianapolis, 
and by transacting business, has saved more, in time and traveling 
expenses, to the people of our State than all its cost. 
Respectfully submitted, 

GEO. 0. JGBES. 



Indiana Military Agency, Memphis, Tenn., 1 
January 1, 1864. j 

WM. H ANN AM AN, 

General Military Agent : 

Sir: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to trans- 
mit to you the following report of the operations of this office for 
the year just closed. 

No one who has not been connected with one of these agencies, 
can have any very accurate notion of the duties they have to per- 
form. If a soldier is a fit subject for a discharge or furlough, if he 
is absent from his regiment without a discriptive list, or if there is 
anything in his circumstances requiring some special favor from the 
military authorities, he feels, as he certainly should, that in the per- 
son of his State Agent he has a friend from whom he may always 
expect a patient and respectful hearing, and such assistance as it 
may be in his power to render. These duties, requiring personal 
attention and solicitation in behalf of the soldier, are often important 
to him, and require much time and labor. 

Besides these duties which are performed directly for the soldier, 
there are many which belong to his friends and relatives, who, 
prompted by affection, visit him in the camp or hospital, to pro- 
vide for his many wants, and to cheer and encourage him by the 
presence of the loving heart and beaming face of a father, a mother, 
a sister, or a brother. Passes are to be procured, a hospital is to be 
.pointed out, a friend to be sought and found, or, as is too often the 
case, sad news is to be broken as softly as may be, and the bereaved 



37 

one to be accompanied to the undertakers' and to the grave of the 
fallen patriot. 

Another important function of the agency is that of an intelli- 
gence office. Either by personal application or by letter, many 
inquiries are made, calling for information upon almost every ques- 
tion that could possibly arise in connection with the service ; and 
considerable investigation is frequently necessary, that these inqui- 
ries may be correctly answered. 

In addition to these there are certain miscelldfcieous duties required, 
such as procuring the effects of deceased soldiers and forwarding 
them to their friends, receiving and forwarding goods shipped in the 
care of the agent, distributing letters and papers sent to his cart. 
&c, &c. 

On my arrival here, on the 6th of March, there were many soldiers 
in the hospitals and convalescent caihp, who were fit subjects for 
discharge. At that time all examination for discharge were made by 
one board of surgeons, and their time was so occupied that, without 
the interventton of a friend, it was almost impossible for the most 
deserving ones to get an examination, as they were crowded out by 
those whose superior strength and assurance placed them in the 
front. It was the business of this office to furnish that friend ; and 
during the months of March and April this was the important work 
to be performed. Much good was done in this respect, but not all 
that ought to have been done. 

During the three succeeding months, the arrival of sick and wounded 
from below, and the duties incidental to this, occupied a large share 
of the time and attention of myself and assistant, and since then the 
furloughing of men has brought up a new class of duties. 

On the 1st of April, there were in the several hospitals of this 
city, three hundred and sixteen enlisted men and seventeen commis- 
sioned officers belonging to Indiana regiments ; on the 1st of October 
there were three hundred and two men and twelve officers ; and on 
the 31st day of December, there were only one hundred and fifty- 
nine men and one officer. This does not include those who are on 
furlough. 

Besides being much less numerous, the cases are much less grave 
in their character than they were some months ago. 

This diminution in numbers cannot be fairly attributed to the 
improved health of the troop3, for all the regiments belonging to our 
State except three, the 25th, 89th and 93d, are at points so distant 
from this place, that their sick and wounded cannot be brought here 



38 

for treatment. Still the news from all points is, that the army has 
never been in such perfect health as it is now. 

I have kept no account of the number of packages of sanitary 
stores received and distributed, and if I had done this, there would 
still be no means of arriving at their cash value. They must have 
unnunted to several thousands of dollars, but to the sick, their value 
could scarcely be estimated by dollars and cents ; and this is espec- 
ially true of the choice wines and canned fruits, with which you have 
kept me so liberally Supplied. 

In the distribution of these and other delicacies for the sick, I have 
thought it best to place them in the hands of the female nurses, as I 
could do this with perfect confidence that they would be properly 
used; and I have the best of evidence that they have uniformly been 
so used. 

Most of the articles of clothing disposed of have also been distrib- 
uted to them, or directly to the soldiers needing them. 

In supplying regimental hospitals, I have thought it my duty to 
provide first for those of our own State, but in the distribution of 
stores to the general hospitals, no distinction was made or sought to 
be made. 

The money furnished me by the Sanitary Commission, has been 
used almost exclusively in assisting destitute furloughed soldiers in 
^oin<r to their homes. If those who donated it, could have seen the 
pale and melancholy faces of the long suffering soldiers suddenly 
become radient with new born hope and gratitude, as I did when they 
were told that I could furnish them money enough to enable them to 
go home, they would have felt that they were indeed reaping a great 
reward. 

I have kept no register of persons calling on business, as has been 
done by some of the agents, and, although such a register would 
occasionally be of some value, I do not think it would pay for the 
labor required. I have, however, kept a letter record since the 1st 
of April, in which either a copy or synopsis of all business letters 
written since that time, has been kept. These letters are numbered 
and indexed so as to be convenient for reference. The number now 
on this record, is four hundred and one, and nearly an equal number 
has been received and filed. 

Up to the 1st of June no account was kept of the Railroad Passes 
issued from this office, but since that time. I have thought it best to 
keep a register of them. There are now seventy-eight entered upon 



39 

this register, nearly all of which were issued to nurses and special 
surgeons returning to their homes. 

The liberal course inaugurated by Governor Morton, in regard to 
female nurses, and continued by yourself and the agents under your 
control, reflects honor upon our State. So far as my knowledge 
extends, there is no other State and no Sanitary Commission .except 
our own, that provides for their free subsistance and transportation 
to and from the hospitals ; and whose agents are instructed to encour- 
age and sustain tnem, and by all means in their power to contribute 
toward making their sacrifices of personal comfort as light as possi- 
ble. True this has not been done without expense, but if the expense 
had been much greater, it would still have been a profitable invest- 
ment. As auxiliaries in the discharge of the duties of this office, 
they have rendered me valuable assistance , but, to the sick and 
wounded soldiers in the wards, their services have been above price. 
Their delicate skill in the preparation of diets, their watchful atten- 
tion to the slightest want, their words of sympathy and encourage- 
ment, have made the hospitals a home ; and, in hundreds of instances, 
have almost lured the poor sufferer back from death unto life. 

The Crimean war produced its Florence Nightingale, and good 
men and women throughout the world have warmed with admiration 
of her noble deeds. She is worthy of the highest meed of praise. 
I would not pluck a laurel from her brow, but I rejoice with the pride 
of an American, that this war has produced its thousands of Florence 
Nightingales. 

As no accounts were kept in a permanent manner in this office 
until my arrival, I cannot make any statement of its receipts and 
disbursements prior to the 1st of March. 

The following is a statement of the receipts and disbursements 
since that time : 
Disbursements on account of State, including 

salary for services $3,049 54 

Receipts from State 2,802 57 

Deficit $246 97 

Disbursements on account of San. Com. to sol- 
diers going home on furlough 612 00 

For miscellaneous purposes 67 65 

Total 079 65 

Receipts on account of Sam Com 602 90 



4» 

Oash receipts from other sources credited to 

Sanitary Fund 39 00 



Total 641 90 



Deficit 37 75 

In conclusion I may be permitted to remark, that, it any vindi- 
cation of the policy of Governor Morton in establishing these local 
agencies for the care of our sick and wounded soldiers were necess- 
ary, it might be found in the fact that the Governors of Ohio, Illi- 
nois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, have found it necessary to fol- 
low his example. 

Respectfully submitted, 

GEO, 0. JOBES, 
Indiana Military Agent, 



GALLATIN, TFNN.„ AGENCY. .. 

REPORT OF COL. ED. SHAW FROM MAY 9, 1864, IN RELATION TO TEE 
MEN OP THE 10TH CAVALRY, WOUNDED BY THE DISASTER ON THE L. 
k N. R. It. 

Gallatin, Tenn., May 9, 1864. 

Wm. Hannaman: 

Sir : — I have the honor to state that, in pursuance of your orders, 
so often issued, to be mindful of the wants of our sick and wounded 
soldiers, I came up here by this morning's train, from Nashville, 
arriving at 8 : 30. I proceeded immediately to the hospital where I 
found Surgeon C. M. Hoagland, with his sleeves rolled up and busily 
engaged in dressing the wounds of our boys, himself, not leaving it 
to his assistants, as is too often the case. After watching the pro- 
cess for a few moments, I took a stroll around the wards, speaking to 
each one of the boys, and am happy to state that they are all doing 
well and say they are as well cared for as they could be at home. I 
aoticed that several of the Union ladies of the town were busily 
engaged making buckets of lemonade for them to drink. 



41 

The building occupied as the hospital was formerly a seminary., 
kirge and commodious, beautifully situated in the midst of a grove of 
trees, a large garden in the rear of the building, in which the Sur- 
geon has onions, potatoes, peas and cabbage, all growing finely,, 
groops of convalescent men setting around on the grass, reading the 
latest news from the army of the Potomac. Some thirty-three of 
our wounded boys have so far recovei'ed as to be able to return to 
duty, and have joined their regiment, now encamped about two miles 
from the city of Nashville. I enclose a list of their names. There 
will not probably be over ten whose service will be lost to the country* 
After the Surgeon had finished his work for the morning, he took me 
through the building, and everything appeared to be in perfect order 
and cleanliness. I spoke, in my former letter, of the aid rendered 
by Capt. Bcnj. F. Nicklen, on the day of the collision. After seeing 
all the boys comfortably taken to the hospital, he sent out of town 
and, finding a few head of beef cattle, which, like the southern 
chivalry, in search of their rights, had come inside of our pickets 
and were gobbled up, and those that have not been slaughtered are 
nicely enclosed and under guard, awaiting their turn, he then pressed 
several tons of ice, enough to last the boys for a long time. I was 
much pleased with Capt. Nicklen's manner of doing business. Sur- 
rounded by galvanized rebels, he uses no honeyed words. I noticed 
that, while I was talking with him, one of this set, galvanized by 
the amnesty oath, and a traitor, was brought before him for some 
breach of law. I will not state his words, but they were short, 
emphatic and to the point. After leaving the hospital I walked over 
to his battery (13th Ind.,) and was politely shown though the Fort by 
Lt. Jessee Grull, who has everything in the mosfc perfect order. 

I am glad to say that our Indiana Agent at Louisville, ever watch- 
ful of our boys, as soon as he heard of the disaster, sent a lot of 
sanitary supplies, which, together with those sent from Nashville,, 
will last for some time. 

I return on this evening's train to Nashville. 

I am ; sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

ED. SHAW, 
Colonel and Military Agent 



42 



KEOKUK, IOWA, AGENCY. 

REPORTS OF E. K. HART, AGENT, JANUARY 1ST, AND MARCU 17TII, 1864. 

Keokuk, January 1, 1864. 

His Excellency, Gov. 0. P. Morton, Indiana : 

Dear Sir : — I have the honor of informing you that there ha? 
been but one death in the United States General Hospital at Keokuk, 
of the Indiana soldiers, since April, 1863. There are still remaining 
here twenty-five soldiers unfit for duty. There have been returned 
to duty since the 1st July, 1863, 28 ; deserted, 2, and 3 discharged. 
The accompanying list gives you the names and dates of those 
returned to duty, and I also inclose a list of those remaining in hos- 
pital, and also a complete list of all the deaths of Indiana soldiers 
that have died in this hospital since its commencement, with a finan- 
cial statement. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

Most respeetfully, your obedient servant, 

E. K. HART, 
Military Agent of Indiana at Keokuk, Iowa, 



March 15, 1864. 

His Excellency, Gov. 0. P. Morton, Indiana : 

Dear Sir : — I have the honor to report thirty Indiana soldiers in 
the United States General Hospital in Keokuk, all able to be about, 
and mostly on duty. A few have been here over a year in poor 
health, not able for anything, anxious to be sent home, discharged, or 
otherwise, but we cannot get it done. Several of our men that were 
permitted to go home on discharge furloughs, have, by the blessing of 
Providence and their friends, recovered and re-enlisted, that would 
have died in hospital. Can no order be made to send sick soldiers to 
friends ? 

Most respectfully submitted, by 

E. K. HART, 
Military Agent, Indiana, 



43 



NEW YORK AGENCY. 

FRANK E. HOWE, AGENT, FEBRUARY 5tH, 1864. 

New York, February 1, 1864. 

His Excellency, Gov. Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana : 

Governor : — I have the honor to send by to-day's express my 
report of sick and wounded soldiers belonging to Indiana regiments, 
who have been admitted into Hospitals in and near New York City 
since the rendition of my last report, October 1st to December 31st, 
1863, and the final disposition of such as have been transferred, 
returned to duty and discharged from service during the same period. 
It would not have been delayed so long after the first of the month 
had we not had an extra amount of labor to perform. 

Trusting that the report herewith furnished will prove acceptable 
to your Excellency, and afford to those of your citizens, more closely 
related to the names given, a fund of interesting and valuable infor- 
mation, and to the friends of the soldier in your State another evi- 
dence of the jealousy with which she guards the interest, and pro- 
vides for the welfare of her volunteers. 

I am, with great respect, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

FRANK E. HOWE, 
Military Agent for Indiana. 
Per W. H. Kimball. 



CHATTANOOGA, TENN., AGENCY. 

JAMES H. TURNER, AGENT, AUGUST 20tH, 1864. 

Indiana Military Agency, Chattanooga, Tenn., ] 

August 20, 1864. J 

Wm. Hannaman, 

General Military Agent, Indianapolis, lnd.: 

As Military Agent at this post for the past year, and having closed 
my labors, I herewith forward you a report of my operations : 
I was appointed by Governor Morton on the 24th day of Novem- 



44 

ber, 186^, and reached Chattanooga on the second day of December. 
The incursions of the enemy had so damaged our means of trans- 
portation, that but a small supply of stors were at that time in Chat- 
tanooga, and so precarious were the chances of speedily filling the 
Commissary warehouses, it was deemed prudent to issae but half 
rations to the soldiers. This necessity was cheerfully acquiesced in 
by the men, but its effects were soon seen in palid faces and over- 
flowing hospitals. The meager supplies, obtained by limited trans- 
portation, was soon absorbed by the great demand at the hospitals. 
It was the most painful part of my wearisome experience as agent, 
that I was compelled to witness the gradual sinking of men f-or the 
want of the nourishing supplies which I knew were awaiting ship- 
ment at Nashville, in the greatest abundance. • All through December 
and January I was able to do but little for the sufferers, but whatever 
I could do in words of cheer, in assisting at the hospitals, and in the 
last sad offices to the dead, ,\as done cheerfully and constantly. 

Records of sick and deceased soldiers were kept, and frequent 
reports made to your office for the information of soldiers' friends. 
Keepsakes, and other property of the dying, deposited with me, found 
their way to Indianapolis. Letters were written for the sick to friends 
at home, and in every way possible the wishes of the dying were 
complied with. 

Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining suitable rooms for an 
office, but after having occupied several dilapidated shanties, being 
burnt out once, and turned out once, the Indiana Agency was finally 
comfortably established in pleasant rooms of a house on Main street, 
the bachelor occupant of which was turned out by the military 
authorities to give us place. 

But the winter broke at last, and with the early spring came the 
long needed sanitary supplies. In February they commenced pour- 
ing in, and the Army Commisariat was also replenished. Then the 
soldiers began to live, and feel that they were not forgotten at home. 
Their faces grew ruddy again, and their huzzas for the old flag made 
the welkin ring. Matters in the hospitals changed too. The patients 
cheered up as home comforts and delicacies made their appearance. 
The praises which were heaped upon the agency, and the good people 
of Indiana, for their liberal donations, were beyond all description. 
The men thanked me with tears in their eyes, and " God bless Gov. 
Morton," every day. While my labors are arduous, I felt all the 
time that I was amply repaid for my weariness and anxiety, by the 
hearty thanks that fell from the soldiers' lips. It was indeed a blessed 



45 

work, that, through the wisdom of Gov. Morton, and the munificence 
of the people of Indiana, I was able to perform during the past year 
for these noble patriot souls, who have forsaken home and its com- 
forts, to stand as a break-water between the impetuous surges of the 
rebels, who would overthrow our glorious Republic, in chaotic ruin, 
upon which would arise a despotism, or leave us a dependency upon 
some European crown. 

After the long scarcity of the winter there were but few times, and 
those of short duration, when we had scanty supplies. The memora- 
ble campaign of General Sherman from Chattanooga to Atlanta, in 
which there was fighting every day, made the demand upon this 
agency very great indeed. Invaluable aid was rendered by Mr. 
George Merritt and Mr. W. John Wallace, of Indianapolis, who bore 
themselves like martyrs in their trying positions, and all for the love 
of country, for they never took one penny for their services. They 
followed the army closely, and as soon as hospitals were established, 
they began pouring the sanitary stores into them. Their services 
were an invaluable aid to this agency. Very much suffering was pre- 
vented by their energetic efforts. 

The great battles fought southward, from Chattanooga, filled the 
hospitals with sick and wounded ; and every possible thing which this 
agency could do to relieve the distressed, was done with alacrity. 
My duties increased, so that the office was besieged from mornino- 
until late into the night with applicants for aid or information. 
Besides increasing my ordinary duties, many new duties were created. 

The arrival of citizens, looking after sick, wounded and dead 
friends, gave me much additional labor. I took wives to the bedside 
of dying husbands, and wept with mothers and sisters over fallen 
sons and brothers. I lent money to pay for embalming bodies, and 
gave passes, furnished by Indiana, to enable the mourners to reach 
their homes. Many will bless the day they found these little mao-ic 
tickets. Home and friends were mirrored in their faces, and the name 
of Gov. Morton, which undersigned them, shone as an angelic visita- 
tion. 

During the time I spent here I have received from your office seven- 
teen hundred and forty-nine (1,749) packages of sanitary stores. Of 
these, I distributed from this office to regiments, to hospitals, and to 
private soldiers, twelve hundred and twelve (1,212) packages. I have 
forwarded to the agents in Georgia five hundred and thirty-seven 
(587) packages ; these packages consisting chiefly of vegetables, 
clothing and delicacies. 



46 

But my labors here must end for the present. To me it has been 
a labor of love, and my only regrets were that I could do no more. 
I have wanted the arms and strength of ten men, that I might do 
more of this blessed work. I leave the agency with regret that I 
have been able to do so little while so much remains to be done, but 
1 have the satisfaction to know that my successor, Mr. V. Carter, will 
enter vigorously upon his work of mercy and labor of love. 

I can not close this report without adverting to my co-laborers, 
whether of the Medical Department, or of the Christian Commission. 
They have uniformly treated me with the utmost respect, and I have 
endeavored always to reciprocate the fraternal feeling. It is greatly 
owing to my instructions from your office, and the general intentions 
of the Governor, that this feeling has prevailed, and I will not be 
considered egotistical in appending the following letters as samples of 
many which were sent me upon leaving Chattanaoga, when I give the 
State credit, rather than myself, for the efforts which have brought 
them out : 



Chattanooga, August 16, 1864. 
Mr. J. H. Turner, Indiana Military Agent: 

Dear Sir : — As we are about to leave Chattanooga for our home in 
Indiana, permit us, through this medium, to express to you our most 
sincere and grateful thanks for the kindness and unceasing care you 
have always bestowed upon our suffering brothers and soldier friends. 
Let us assure you that your good work has been fully appreciated by 
suffering thousands, your presence at the hospital is always hailed 
with delight, and even your name has become an "household word"' 
with the Indianians. May God bless and reward you for the deep in- 
terest, zeal and sympathy you ever exhibit in our worthy cause ; and 
may the sun of peace very soon dawn upon us, and dispel the cloud 
which has darkened our peaceful horizon for more than three long 
years. God send an early victory, and an honorable peace to those 
who are fighting under the banner of " broad stripes and bright 
stars," and may we all be a happy people whose " God is the Lord." 

Honing that prosperity may crown all your efforts, we are, 
Yery respectfully, 

Yours, &c, 
CAPT. RAVENSCROFT & WIFE. 



47 

Office Post Quartermaster, Chattanooga, Tenn, | 

August 19, 1864. j" 

J. H. Turner, Esq.: 

Having learned recently that you are about to return to your home 
in Inrlinna, I take this opportunity to say that your determination to 
do so is deeply regretted by all "with whom you have become 
acquainted while attending to your duties here, and by none more 
than the officers who have charge of this post. 

Many an Indiana soldier, when returning from the service, and 
detained here in hospital or otherwise, will anxiously inquire for you, 
and remembering your many acts of kindness to the boys, will yet 
more deeply regret your absence. 

I know that, go where you may, you will carry with you the kind- 
est wishes of all in charge here for your future welfare and pros- 
perity. 

Respectfully, your friend, 

J. S. HARVEY, A. Q. M. Post. 



Headruarters 29th Reg't Ind. Vet. Vol. Inf'y., ] 
Chattanooga. Tenn., Aug. 22d, 1864. ./ 

Major J. H. Turner: 

Dear Sir : Upon my return to Chattanooga, I was informed that 
you had left for Indianapolis, and there to remain. • 

I take this method of expressing to you my regret and that of my 
regiment, for the necessity which has induced you to leave us. It is 
due to you to say that you have ever been faithful to your trust, in 
the prompt and efficient manner in which the duties devolving upon 
you have been discharged, a true friend to the soldier in sickness 
and distress. 

We believe our State to have been better represented at this place, 
in this respect than auy other State in the Union, and I can sav to 
you truly, that I have to hear for the first time any complaints, made 
by either officer or soldier, in regard to your management of the Mil- 
itary Agency of the State at this point, and for the many kindnesses 
my regiment has received at your hands, permit me to subscribe 
myself, 

D. M. DUNN, 
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding. 



48 

C( 

Chattanooga, August 19, 1864. 



U. S. Caristian Commission, Branch Office, ) 



Major Turner: 



Dear Sir : I learn with regret that you are to be transferred to 
another field of labor. Our association has been to me exceedingly 
pleasant, and our intercourse in an official way has been more than 
friendly. By your uniform kindness and courtesy, you have placed 
both myself and the Commission I represent under lasting obliga- 
tions. I trust that the friendly relations existing between our 
organizations may continue under your successor, and that you may 
find a wider and more pleasant field of labor in your new sphere of 
action. 

Yours, sincerely. 

H. D. LATIIROP, 
Ag't U. &. Chris:. Com.) Chattanooga, Term. 
Maj. Turner, Ind. Mil. Agent. 

In conclusion, I must express my earnest thanks for your willing- 
ness to hold up my hands, and render me useful in my agency ; and 
may the blessing of God rest upon you, and upon our Military 
Agencies. 

JAMES H. TURNER. 



PHILADELPHIA AGENCY. 

report of robert r, carson, agent. 

Office of Indiana State Military Agent, \ 
Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 19, 1864. / 

Sir : — I can not but feel it right that, with the close of the year, I 
should lay before you a formal report of my operations, thus far, in 
the sanitary fields. You have encouraged these operations, you have 
sustained them ; it was your humanity, eager to secure the greatest 
amount of comfort to the soldier in the field, that recognized his 
more necessitous claim to relief, when lying amid the dreary scenes 
of a hospital ward ; and it has been your generosity, I am pursuaded, 
rather as a citizen contributing privately to the public good, than as 
an officer guiding the disbursement of public funds, by private philan- 
thropic judgment, that has enabled my efforts to be realized to an 



49 

extent commensurate with the benevolent intentions which prompted 
them. It is due, therefore, to you, sir, that I should show the modes 
by which your charities have been distributed, and the ends to which 
they have been applied, and it is due to myself that I should seem to 
understand, at least, the scope of the functions thus entrusted to me, 
and to be in some measure worthy of the responsibilities that they 
confer. 

I now gather up and generalize the partial reports already In your 
hands. If the statement, by publication, in the Adjutant Generalis 
report, or elsewhere, seems likely to show the State what disposi- 
tions are made to alleviate her sick and wounded, it is, of course, at 
your disposal for such purpose, indeed it would gratify me to know 
that it had been used in this way. 

What is now organized into the regular system of effort called 
State Agency, was, at first, nothing more than private attempts 
towards mitigating some of the sufferings and inconveniences exhi- 
bited and incurred in the routine of hospital practice. It was 
supposed that these were necessarily incident to the beginning of a 
great war by a nation wholly unprepared for it, both in civic spirit 
and in material resource, but that when the former had been moulded, 
with American facility, to respond to the new order of things, and 
when the latter had been so developed by American energy, and 
accommodated by American tact, as to meet promptly and amply the 
enormous sanitary demands made upon it, we would not be less suc- 
cessful in the hospital than in the field. Certainly, we all expected 
that the Government, through the medical department, would be able 
to take every care of its defenders, disabled by the accidents of war, 
not only employing the best surgical skill (for the motive to this 
woald be merely the barest humanity, or else national life, interest, a 
desire to use the strength of these men the second time,) but actually 
setting in motion whatever indirect means would relieve these patriots 
from anxiety and embarrassment, and give them much the same per- 
sonal privileges as they enjoyed before patriotism exchanged the 
amenities of home for the rough chances of the field. A blundering 
hope, similar to that which we indulged about our all-sweeping military 
successs in prospedu, when the old modes of warfare were to be 
revolutionized, the world astonished and military history shamed into 
silence. 

But, as in the latter case, we encountered one insuperable difficulty 
after another, failed to bend the constitution of things nccording to 
our impetuous purposes, and were forced to settle down to a military 
I. M. A. R.— 4 



50 

mill-grinding, very different from the fierce bolting process patented 
by our hopes, so in the former case it was found that the sanitary 
task thrown upon us was too vast to admit the general mitigatory 
features proposed, that only the physical treatment of men in the 
mass could be recognized by the medical department as the sphere of 
its duties, individual cases and all the complexionaj varieties of their 
wants being left to their own resources, to chance, or to private 
philanthropy. The war settled down into a fixed problem, to be 
steadily wrought out, and such was the expression of its determinate 
action, in this direction. 

Seeing how matters wore shaping for the future, I abandoned the 
private and fragmentary efforts of the first few months, and cast 
about to discover what elements could be supplied by the nation and 
methodized into some system of action that would give a more prompt 
certain and thorough issue to my original view. It was evident that 
appeals to the generosity of our citizens would answer the purpose 
only partially, such a source of supply must be suject to fluctuations 
corresponding with the number and kind of demands made upon it, 
it could not see the results of its contributions, and a single city 
would soon weary of bearing the collected burdens that ought to 
fall upon many States, severally. Tnus one plan after another was 
entertained and abandoned, each failing in some important condition 
of the Avork, till that was reached, which is now in operation. It is, 
in brief, a call upon upon each State authority to empower an agent 
in all the principal cities used as hospital depots, to discover and 
relieve distresses of the sick and wounded that lie outside of the 
general Government path of exertion. The responsibility of the mat- 
ter is thus thrown upon the parties to whom it fairly belongs, centers 
are secured from which may radiate authoritative and reliable action, 
and the results of the work, to an organized and directly interested 
source, are seen and appreciated. 

The plan has fulfilled the highest expectations formed of it. It is, 
indeed, nothing more than directing into a special channel the compo- 
site energies which our peculiar National Constitution develops; the 
General Government does its share, the separate States do their share ; 
And between the untited action of both the utmost good is probably 
'lone that the painful and confused circumstances will admit. It has 
but one drawback — the insufficient prominence given to it as a phi- 
lanthropic means. Our nation, liable beyond all others to consider 
things in grand masses, has too roughly estimated the consequences 
of war, in making over their total treatment to the hands of the Med- 



51 

ical Department; while the Department itself has been constrained, 
by the necessities of the case, to consider its subjects in aggregate, 
and to adapt to them regulations of very general nature. It could 
not be otherwise. For, first, the sanitary treatment of an army of 
sufferers must involve a discipline no less strict than that which reg- 
ulates military life in the field; the demand for it is even more 
urgent; without it a hospital ward would be a scene of utter confu- 
sion, and all medical efficiency would be blown to the winds. Yet 
this discipline — not tending in the hospital to the same end as in the 
field — is not attended with results so uniformly beneficial. In active 
operations discipline's aim is the same as that of war itself — to 
gather the most completely, and wield the most effectively, the col- 
lected energies of a mass: it seeks nothing more than general results, 
and the more complete the subordination of individual immunities, 
the more complete is the attainment of the desired end. But since 
the purpose of sanitary effort is exactly opposite that of military 
effort, it cannot receive its regulative conditions from the latter with- 
out having its operations considerably impeded by the foreign though, 
necessary burden. 

It attaches, of course, exclusively to the individual; the disposal 
of aggregates forms no part of its plans ; nothing but the welfare of 
particular cases comes under its ken; and hence it is that it cannot 
admit but with reluctance aud in compliance with a real necessity, 
those laws that pertain to a general drift of things only. 

If I have rightly understood this matter, sir, it is to adjust this 
contradiction which exists in our hospitals, between the specific end 
of the medical art and the general means by which only this aim can 
be realized, that is the office of State Agency. On the side of the 
Government there is a constant tendency to give plan an undue prom- 
inence ; men are liable to be subjected to mere routine treatment, and 
to be regarded only as digesters of medicine when sick, as they are 
digesters of meat when well. It is the part of the sev.eral States to 
come between the patient and any injustice that he might suffer from 
this cause ; to individualize him, to investigate the peculiar circum- 
stances of his case, and attend to them in virtue of their being the 
circumstances of that case and no other. 

This, so far as I am empowered, is my office. It rarely, of course, 
falls to nay lot to do anything in the strictly medical direction, since 
our patients are tended with a humanity and scientific care that do 
infinite honor to the profession enlisted in the service ; no one who 
has not been closely cognizant of the necessities of a hospital can 



52 

duly estimate the devotion exhibited by our Surgeons in their ardu- 
ous and exhausting duties. 

If, however, there are longings of the very ill or the convalescent 
for delicacies supplied neither by the regular dietary nor by the 
Ladies' Societies located in all our hospitals, I gratify them to the 
extent deemed expedient by the Surgeon in charge of the case. 

Permit me, sir, to detail to you those offices which devolve legiti- 
mately upon me. 

First, there is the work of keeping the State accurately and fre- 
quently apprised of the condition and location of her every soldier 
in hospital in this city. The uses of this plan are obvious. If it 
served no other purpose, it would at least be the best reparation the 
State could make to her citizen, and the best remaining bond which 
the citizen could hold to his State. For those intimate relations con- 
stituted by civil law, social influences, and the thousand nameless 
attachments of a localized home, have all been wholly and violently 
ruptured through the State's inducement; in her behalf the man has 
abandoned everything that peace makes dear: surely she is bound to 
follow out the story of his perils and his pains, as the only compen- 
sation she can make for those claims that he had upon her when the 
ordinary avocations of civil life were undisturbed. 

But aside from this, there has been found to result from a State 
thus maintaining an overlook of her men several advantages of not 
minor importance. The State is enabled to answer questions made 
by friends, to correct desertions falsely reported, and check off dis- 
charges from the true date as non-recipients of further State bounty 
money. Therefore I use every exertion to make my lists complete 
and accurate. Within six hours after the arrival of any sick or 
wounded man, the hospital to which he is assigned is reported to me 
by the Medical Director of Transportation. lie is then visited, his 
name, company, regiment, ward and bed registered, and these details 
are sent to you when the number of names sw r ells to a score. The 
sufferer, once being noted, constant watch is kept upon him : the hos- 
pitals being visited daily every change is noted, and 1 am able, in 
this way, to give a full history of each patient during his sojourn here. 

To make these hospital rounds thoroughly is a task very exhaustive 
of time, means and strength ; not «o much because of the records 
taken, (although these demand care and unremitting intentness,) as 
because this personal examination only can develop the peculiarities 
of cases, and make adaptations conducive to their relief. Moreover, 
all pntients have neei of many little things which were to them the 



53 

conveniences of home life in the days of health, but which, in the 
unrelieved tedium of sickness and hospital scenes, press with the 
claim of actual necessities. Among these I may mention tobacco, 
postage stamps, stationery, car tickets, etc., etc. The effect of sup- 
plying such articles can readily be imagined by any one who sympa- 
thizes with the position of the beneficiaries. They are gifts to each 
sufferer from his native State, a proof that he is still her cared-for 
citizen, and a recognition of his services in her behalf. It is wonder- 
ful to see the new elasticity that is thus given to the spirits, the 
hopefulness, the determination to bear on uncomplainingly to the 
end. As I write the moral good done in this way to our cause, and 
the happiness conferred upon its broken defenders, come vividly be- 
fore me through memory, and I can but rejoice that your State has 
not so recklessly converted her citizens into military machines as to 
forget what privileges of civil life are due to the individual while she 
is devoting every energy to the alleviation of his physical needs as a 
soldier. Indeed, here is the higher path of philanthropic effort, and 
here is the sharpest test of a professed humanity, at least as regards 
its breadth of view. 

With this I send my concluding report of names for the year. 
But, in tracing and verifying the history of cases during this period^ 
the desire of making my labor complete induced me to go beyond the 
limit indicated. Little by little I was led further and further back, 
until I found myself in full possession of the materials that are here- 
with embodied and transmitted. The difficulties have been very nu- 
merous in executing the more remote part of my work, because of the 
bungling and careless way in which hospital records were kept when 
war and hospitals were novelties to us. But I believe that order is 
at last brought out of the confusion, and I am now enabled to lay be- 
fore you this complete history of every Indiana soldier who has 
entered any one of our city hospitals since the beginning of the war. 

I have the honor to remain your Excellency's ob't. serv't., 

ROBERT R. CORSON, 
Indiana State Military Agent. 

To Hon. 0. P. Morton, 

Governor of Indiana. 



54 



PfilLADBLPHiA, May 24, ]8C4. 
Hon. 0. P. Morton, 

Governor of Indiana : 

Sir : — I have the honor to report having returned a few days since 
from a visit to Belle Plain and Fredericksburg, where I went to lend 
what aid lay in my power to the wounded there. 

At Belle Plain I found long trains of ambulances containing 
wounded from Fredericksburg and the front. Many had been two 
nights oh the journey, and suffered greatly from loss cf blood and 
want of food, while some died. On arrival, they were furnished by 
the Sanitary and Christian Commissions with tea, coffee and stimu- 
lants, and. on being transferred to the steamers, had their wounds 
dressed, and were otherwise comfortably provided for — a corps of 
Surgeons and nurses being attached to each boat- 
On Friday, the 15th inst., I accompanied a boat-load to Washing- 
ton, returning next day to Belle Plain, and thence to Fredericksburg. 
There I found the wounded in nearly every house, and greatly in 
need of supplies, particularly straw to lie upon. Though everything 
possible had been done by Government and the Commissions to 
remedy this deficiency, the bad roads, and the necessity of supplies 
at the front, delayed those for the wounded until Monday, the 16th 
inst., when they arrived freely, with Surgeons and nurses. In the 
meantime the sufferings of the wounded were great, yet I heard no 
complaints or regrets other than that they had fallen so early. 

The hospitals in this city are rapidly filling up with the wounded. 
Lists of the Indiana men have been sent to William Hannaman, Gen- 
eral Military Agent, as they arrived, and a report now preparing from 
visits made to the men, and giving previously omitted names, with 
particulars of all, will be forwarded in a few days. 

I shall be happy to be of any possible service to the friends of the 
Indiana men. 

I have the honor to remain your Excellency's ob't. serv't., 

ROBERT R. CORSON, 
Indiana State Military Agent. 



\ 



55 

Philadelphia, July 14, 1864. 
Hon. 0. P. Morton, 

Governor of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind. : 

Sir : — I have the honor to enclose a report of sick and wounded 
soldiers from Indiana in hospitnls in and around this city, from April 
1st to June 80th, inclusive, with their condition, &c. The list ha-? 
been carefuiiy corrected, and L believe it is as near correct ae 
possible. 

Since the 14th of May last we have been receiving large number? 
of men daily from Washington, Baltimore and the battle fields — the 
latter, in many cases, badly wounded. These men I have visited, 
and their wants supplied- When articles of clothing have been 
needed, I have generally got them from the Sanitary Commission. 
Smaller articles, such as postage stamps, stationery, tobacco, car 
tickets, &c._, I have furnished myself. As usual, most of the men 
have come from the field with four and six months pay due them, and 
-entirely out of funds. To these men, in a strange city, among 
strangers, these little articles are most grateful, being gifts direct 
from their own State — an evidence that they are not forgotten. 

The lists kept at my headquarters are consulted by the soldiers 
from the different hospitals who are able to ride about, and from them 
the whereabouts of their comrades in distant hospitals is obtained. 
With the car tickets furnished by me they are enabled to reach the 
most distant points in the city in a short time, and enjoy a pleasant 
ride. 

Letters of . inquiry from friends at a distance are frequently re- 
ceived in regard to special cases. These are given immediate atten- 
tion ; and, after visiting the patient in person, are answered, with full 
particulars of his case. 

Since my last report, (in January,) I have visited Belle Plains. 
Fredericksburg and White House, Virginia, to do what lay in my 
power to aid the wounded and dying from the late battles. I arrived 
at Belle Plains on the 11th day of May, and found large numbers cf 
wounded awaiting transportation to Washington. I remained there 
two days, and then accompanied one of the boats up the river. Re- 
turning the next day, I arrived at Belle Plains in the evening, and at 
daylight the following morning went on to Fredericksburg. Here 1 
found our wounded fresh from the battle field of the Wilderness. 
Every house seemed to be a hospital Little or no provisions of any 



5b 

kind were to be had in the town, as (owing to the bad roads) neither 
the Government nor the Commissions had been able to get up suffi- 
cient supplies. The men suffered terribly at first, being in want of 
nearly everything, but before I left supplies came in freely. 

Soon after my arrival at home, I learned that many of the wounded 
at the White House were to be shipped North. I went down at 
once, but got there too late to be of much service, the men having 
been shipped North the day before my arrival. I returned on the 
same boat. 

Our hospitals are now in good condition, and very little complaint 
is ever made by the soldiers in them. When they were much 
crowded, (in May,) some few complaints were made, but the causes 
which at first were unavoidable have been removed, and now the men 
seem well satisfied. 

I send by same mail my account of expenses for the last six 
months, adding the account rendered last January. I have en- 
deavored to make a little go as far as possible and do the most good., 
and, could your Excellency see how grateful the boys are for . the 
little presents and attention I am able to give them, I am sure you 
would be satisfied that it was money well spent. 

With the hope that my feeble efforts to alleviate the sufferings of 
the heroes of your State may seem satisfactory to yourself, as well as 
to their friends, 

I have the honor to remain your Excellency's most ob't. serv't.. 

ROBERT R. CORSON, 
Indiana State Military Agent, 



NEW ORLEANS AGENCY. 

REPORT OF CIIAS. F. KIMBALL AGENT — SEPTEMBER 30, 1864. 

Official Report of Indiana Military Agent in charge of siek and 
Wounded on Hospital Steamer " GroesbecJc" from New Orleans. 

Indianapolis, Sept. 30 t 1864. 
To his Excellency, 

Gov. 0. P. Morton : 

The following excellent and comprehensive order was issued by 
General Banks on the 9th instant : 



57 

Headquarters Department of the Gulf, \ 
New Oileans, Sept. 9, 1864. / 

Special Order No. 243 — Extract. 

1st. Furloughs for thirty days, commencing and ending at Cairo, 
Ills., will be granted to all enlisted men now sick in hospital, but able 
to travel, belonging to regiments raised in the following States, now 
serving in this Department : Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Mich- 
igan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. Surgeons in charge 
of hospitals are charged with making out and forwarding the neces- 
sary papers. 

The Quartermaster's Department avi'II furnish the necessary trans- 
portation. 

Bv command of Major-General Banks. 

C. S. SARGENT, 
Acting A. A. General. 

(Official.) 
J. Schuyler Crosby, 

A. A. A. General. 

The above order will be seen to contemplate sending only those in 
a measure able to care for themselves. But by personal application, 
accompanied by assuming the responsibility of proper attention being 
given all, of whatever class or disease, succeeded in making its 
application general to all soldiers from Indiana then in hospital. 
Instructions were issued by the Medical Director at my solicitation, 
that the papers of Indianians should come first in order, and the 
steamer " Groesbeck " taken for the purpose of transportation, to be 
in readiness as soon as the papers were perfected. 

My official connection with the " Groesbeck*' is explained by the 
following : 

Headquarters Depatment of the Gulf, \ 
New Orleans, Sept. 12, 1864. J 

Surg. J. T. Payne, 

Hospital Steamer Groesbeck : 

Sir : I am directed by the Commanding General of the Depart- 
ment to introduce to your favorable consideration Mr. Chas. F. Kim- 
ball, Military Agent from the State of Indiana, who will accompany 
he soldiers transported North on the steamer " Groesbeck." The 



58 

General desires that you furnish Mr. Kimball with every facility in 
providing for the sick during the trip, and that you also co-operate 
with him in the disembarkation of the men ai the different poin'- 
he may desire. 

I am, very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 
(Signed.) WILLIAM GRANT. 

A. A. L General 

FURNISHING THIS BOAT. 

The authorities supplied the boat with one Surgeon, Dr. Paine, a 
very good man, and faithful to his trust; also, put on board army 
rations (no extra diet), bed sacks and moss, stove and utensils. The 
Government supply of medicinal stores did not amount to much — 
simply an ordinary field case. Fortunately, I had a good supply left 
of those furnished the " City Bell," hospital steamer, in January 
last. 

I obtained from the United States Sanitary Commission 200 blank- 
ets, 96 pounds condensed milk, 100 wool shirts and drawers, cotton 
shirts and drawers, rags and bandages, slippers, towels, fans, girdle*-. 
pads, chambers, bed-pans, tin cups, 5 doz. claret wine, rasp, vinegar 
loaf sugar, dried fruit, 40 pound corn starch, crackers, &c, in liberal 
quantities ; and as much assistance from the efficient, able and gen- 
tlemanly agent for the Gulf Department, Dr. Blake, in arranging for 
the comfort of the men. 

The Indiana Military Agency furnished a barrel of rye whisky. 
and an ample simply supply of medicines. 

Everything being in readiness, at 2 P. M. Thursday, the 15th. 
commenced moving sick from the University General hospital — at '■) 
o'clock, moved those from the Marine General Hospital — half past h 
removed from the St. Louis Hospital. At 5 o'clock, the boat dropped 
down the river to the Barracks (J. S. General Hospital, six miles 
below the city, and one mile from the celebrated battle ground i 
Chalmette. At 12 o'clock Thursday night:, having taken on board 
all we could comfortably care for, about 240 in number, got under 
weigh for God's country. 

It may be proper here to state that when the furloughing is com- 
plete, the number to come up the river will reach as high as 160(1 
soldiers, of which number upwards of 500 are Indianians. 

The steamer Diana, of large capacity, was being prepared, under 



59 

the eye of Dr. Taylor, of the 34th Indiana, for the second install- 
ment. Other boats will immediately follow with the remainder. 

Prompt attention and encouragement should greet the sick boys 
at Cairo, on their arrival. Provide them comfortable quarters, and 
attend to procuring them transportation to their homes. 

In a very few hours we had everything in order to properly nurse 
the sick — cooking arrangements in running order — indeed, all the 
appointments for earing for all on board as comfortably as on a regu- 
lar hospital steamer. But it will not be imagined that there were 
idle hours for those able to labor, for with one hundred cases ot 
chronic diarrhoea, in all conditions, and the balance recovering slowly 
from every other diseases imaginable, every man having surplus 
strength found use for it. 

But we found ourselves lacking one of the essential elements of 
success — an Angel of Mercy — which I promise myself shall not 
again be the case on any hospital steamer with which I may be con- 
nected. 

At 5 o'clock on Saturday, lost our first man, William Welty, a 
veteran soldier of the 34th Ind. He was buried at Natchez. Any 
information concerning the location of his grave, may be obtained by 
addressing the Hospital Steward, U. S. General Hospital, Natchez, 
Miss.; effects left with Col. Wm. Hannaman, Indianapolis. 

Arrived at Vicksburg Sunday, the 18th. Lost our second man — 
Enoch J. Maris, Battery H, 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery, and buried 
him here ; met with no mishap, and arrived at Memphis Wednes- 
day, the 21st. 

Our hospital flag served us a good purpose, however, at Gaines' 
Landing, where the rebs had a six gun battery in position ; but they 
waived us past with a white flag. We heard the firing between the 
battery and gunboats for an hour. 

Lost our third man Tuesday, the 20th. Henry Y. Nickle, Co. A, 
7th Ky. Left the corps in the hands of Dr. Jobes, Indiana Military 
Agent, and Judge Bingham, Ohio Agent, at Memphis. Were placed 
under many obligations to both Dr. Jobes- and Judge Bingham, for 
their kind offices, and the ready response to our requisitions for « 
replenishing our stock of sanitary goods. 

Arrived at Cairo on Fridvy morning, the 22d inst., after as plea- 
sant a voyage as was possible for a hospital steamer, having had 
uninterrupted pleasant weather, and no accident or unpleasant com- 
motion or jarring. 

On the evening of Thursday, four more of our men, who had sus- 



60 

tained themselves in view of getting home, when almost in sight of 
Cairo, died, to-wit: Fred. Reiser, Co. K, 37th Ills.; Joseph Welch, 

96th Ohio; Balka, Co. K, 1st Ind, Heavy Artillery; 

Elfus, Co. B, 35th Wis. Body of Welch taken home by his brother; 
others buried at Mound City. 

Discharged our government supplies at Mound City ; placed in 
hospital several of our sickest men at same place; ttfrned over bal- 
once of sanitary goods to U. S. Sanitary Commission at Cairo; took 
die men from the boat to the Soldiers' Home : procured transpor- 
tation for all to their homes, and at 9 P. M. Friday delivered the fur- 
loughs and transportation to each man, and took them into the cars 
assigned me by the Central Railroad for special accommodation. 

Too much cannot be said in praise of Capt. John Sebastian of the 
*'Groesbeck," for his uniform kindness, and the hearty generosity 
and sympathy towards the sick soldiers. 

There were many brave men convalescing among the number to 
whom many thanks are due lor their promptness, efficiency and faith- 
fulness in assisting and caring for the sick ; and especially to Ser- 
geant Dougherty, of the 34th Ind., who managed the cooking depart- 
ment on the boat, and was indefatigable in his efforts at Cairo, on the 
train, and at Mattoon, do I return for myself and the sick men our 
hearty thanks. 

Friday morning at 2 o'clock, left Cairo ; arrived Mattoon, Illinois, 
at 2 P. M. Saturday ; transferred all but five of our sickest men, 
who, together with two nurses and myself, were left at Mattoon till 
Sunday evening at 10 o'clock. 

One of the five —William H. Gaines, a fine young soldier, and a 
bright and promising boy — died a few minutes after leaving Terre- 
Haute. On arrival at Indianapolis, transferred the living to Sol- 
diers' Home, the dead to his friends at Shelbyville, and your humble 
servant to the " Shades " for a few days' rest. 

Respectfully, 

CHARLES. F. KIMBALL, 
Ind. Mil. AgH Gulf Deft. 



61 

LOUISVILLE AGENCY. 

report of col. jason ham, agent, december 15th, 1864. 

Indiana Military Agency, 
Louisville, Ky., Dec 15, 1864. 

William Hannaman, Esq., 
General Military Agent : 

Sir: — It will be expected that I shall make a report of the work- 
ings of this agency for the current year, and as the business of this 
office, with but few exceptions, which I hereafter note, have remained 
pretty much the same as last year, I will call your attention to my 
report, made to the Convention which met at Indianapolis last March, 
which report was published. It is proper to say that the business, 
under each head, therein named, have been largely increased the past 
six months. 

One subject, not heretofore reported upon, is special transfers, 
which has taken almost the entire time of one clerk. 

About the first of June last, the Secretary of War gave authority 
to Col. R. C.Wood, Assistant Surgeon General, U. S. A., whose office 
is in this city, to make transfers in individual cases, on the Surgeon's 
certificate, that the man would not be fit for service in six weeks. 
The applications for such transfers are usually made by the State 
Agent, giving name, rank, company and regiment, nature of disease, 
and the reasons why, in the opinion of the applicant, the request 
should be granted. The labor and influence of your State Agent, in 
procuring and hastening through these special transfers, have enabled 
hundreds of soldiers to go to the hospitals of their own State, and 
saved a large expense to our citizens, who have come here to accom- 
pany sick and wounded soldiers to their own State, and who could 
only remain here at a heavy expense. 

The Pass Department of this office has been of great benefit to our 
citizens, for hundreds of whom passes have been obtained, by which 
they have been enabled to go immediately south to look after their 
sick and wounded friends. No doubt, many lives have been thus 
saved. 

By the influence of our noble Governor, an order was obtained 
from the War Department, furloughing Indiana soldiers home to vote 
at the State elections ; and afterwards, another order, extending their 



62 

furloughs beyond the time of the Presidential election. This made 
much extra duty for this office. After the labor attendant upon get- 
ting the .soldiers borne to the first election, and before the order 
extending their furloughs was received, some seventeen hundred had 
returned to this and parts below; and, by order of the Governor, 
State transportation was, furnished to each one of these men at this 
office. ^ 

It has also been a part of the business of this agency to see that 
soldiers, who were permanently disabled, were discharged from ser- 
vice, and that those confined in prison for trivial offenses, be permitted 
to return to duty. 

The truth is, that much of the labor, and much of the good done 
by State agencies, is of such a nature that it can not be put upon 
paper, and con only he appreciated b\ those who are here to see their 
workings. 

Complaints may have been made by the soldiers, that the agent 
here did not visit the hospitals as frequently as he should. This is 
true to some extent ; and the constant demand for the agent at the 
office has made this an absolute necessity, though we have honestly 
endeavored at all times, and under all circumstances, to make this 
agency efficient in reaching the most needy cases — those who were 
unable to come to this office in person to make known their wants. 

The distribution of the Sanitary stores from this agency during the 
past few months to the hospitals, and to the several regiments now in 
camp around this city, has brought out the expression of very many, 
that the best, ami cheapest, and most direct way of reaching the 
soldiers, with donation? from their friends, is through the State 
Agent. This labor of distributing sanitary stores has been done 
without any additional expense to the State or donors, so far, at least, 
as this agency is concerned. 

Much the largest part of the immense sanitary stores donated by 
our patriotic people, and collected and forwarded to me at this place, 
by yourself, as the faithful and efficient President of the State Sani- 
tary Commission, have been destined for points south of this, and 
have been speedily forwarded to their destination. Those designed 
for this point have been distributed as follows : 

During the last six months the following number of soldiers have 
been furnished by me from this agency : 

Number furnished with tobacco 1123 soldiers. 

" " " paper and envelopes 804 " 



Oo 

" <; <■■ towels 77 soldiers. 

pchiefB 223 

• socks 345 

« fans 81 " 

! - " " drapers 618 " 

u shirts 820 " 

k 

in addition to the above there lias been furnished to hospitals, ana 

to regiments in the field : 

Lotsof rags 17 to hospitals. 

One box of butter, pounds 80 

Pads 34 

Blouses 6 " 

Bandages, in lots 14 " 

Barrels of crackers.... 12 

Boxes of berries, dried 2 " 

Barrels of eggs " 

Kegs of pickles < 2 " 

Barrels of meal 2 ' : 

Barrels of krout 21 

Barrels of dried apples 56 " 

Barrels of onions 281 to regiments and hospitals. 

•rels of potatoes 150 " " 

Bottles of wine 1 86 to hospitals. 

Cans of fruit... 256 

Much of the canned fruit, when opened, was found to be spoiled, 
and many of the bottles of wine had leaked away from insecure 
polling. 

[ have endeavored faithfully and honestly to carry out the patriotic 
and benevolent design of our. worthy Executive, Gov. 0. P. Morton, 
in establishing this agency. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

JASON HAM, 

Colonel ii7id Indiana Military Agent. 

P. S. I have the names of each soldier, company and regiment, 
as well as the name and number of the hospitals, that have aeceived 
the various articles that each one is charged with, which I can mak« 



04 



in detail, if desired, at any time. The foregoing is the aggregate of 
the whole, and a great many have had a small piece of tobacco, which 
was not put down. Yours, &c, 

J. H. 



ST. LOUIS AGENCY. 

REPORT OF DR. JNO. E. m'GAUGHEY, AGENT, DECEMBER 17tH, 1864. 

Military Agency of the State of Indiana, 
St. Louis, Mo., December 17, 1864. 

Wm. Hannaman, Indiana Military Agent: 

Dear Sir: — In accordance with your request, I have the honor to 
make the following report of the operations of the Indiana Military 
Agency in this Department for the period of my incumbency. 

This report is as concise, and in as condensed a form, as the data 
at my command, tmd the limited time you afford me, will allow. Kot 
having expected to make my Annual Report until the. last of this 
month, my register is not fully carried out, and many of the minor 
details will necessarily be omitted, though I shall, I hope, be able in 
a general way, and with approximate estimates, to give you a satis- 
factory account of the workings of the agency, without wearying you 
with minutiae and uninteresting details. 

When a little more than "a year ago, under the appointment of 
Gov. Morton, I came to this city to assume the duties of Indiana 
Militar}' Agent, I found that no agent had been here for three or four 
months. The books and papers belonging to the office had been left 
at the Soldiers' Home, the former in a confused, the latter in a very 
considerably damaged condition, and the "prestige'' of the agency 
unsatisfactory, to say the least. I was not long in ascertaining that, 
among my other duties, that of placing myself on a respectable foot- 
ing with the Surgeons in charge of hospitals, and the heads of the 
different Departments, was paramount. This I have sedulously 
endeavored to do, and it is a matter of no small gratification to be 
able to say that my efforts have met with a degree of success highly 
satisfactory, and that 1 do not now recollect any one instance where 
a request for facilities in the prosecution of my duties has been 
refuse.!. 



66 

On my first visit to the different hospitals in and around the city, 
including those at Jefferson Barracks, ten miles below, made in 
December, 1863, I found of 

Indiana soldiers 84 

Admissions during year 1864 543 

Discharged 51 

Died 26 

Returned to duty. 362 

Remaining in hospitals Nov. 31, 1864, and since admitted 188 

The above table may not be strictly correct in giving the exact 
number under each heading, but it as nearly so aa the hasty prepara- 
tion of this report will allow, and is probably sufficiently precise for 
all practical purposes. 

The statistics from which the estimates of the number under each 
head, except that of " returned to duty," are made, were derived from 
the registers of the different hospitals, and these are liable to mis- 
takes. 

Under the head of "Returned to duty " is included all those who 
have been sent to their regiments, those who have been transferred 
to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and those detailed to duty in the offices 
of the hospitals and Department headquarters. The exact number 
of each of these three would be pretty hard to determine, for the 
reason that no distinction is made on the hospital records. 

The number remaining in hospital (188) is larger than at any time 
previous during the year. These men are generally doing well. 
Eighty-two of them have arrived since the first of this month, having 
been transferred from Nashville ; some of them directly from the 
battle-field at Franklin, Tenn. I had hoped to have them sent to 
hospitals in our own State, but as that is impossible because of the 
hospitals being full, and as the men are anxious to go home, (some of 
them not having' seen home or friends for eighteen months,) I am 
procuring furloughs for such as are able to travel alone, and can be 
permitted to go under the twenty per cent. rule. As they must return 
here, and will probably remain for some time, I shall have, perhaps, 
fifty or seventy-five descriptive rolls to write for during the coming 
week. It is an established fact, that company commanders will, in 
many instances, send a descriptive roll at the request of a State 
Agent, when no attention will be paid to the order of a Surgeon in 
charge of a hospital. 

The very small proportions of debts which have occurred among 
Indiana soldiers during the past year is very gratifying, and may 
I. M. A. R.— 5 



66 

perhaps be considered as an evidence of the excellence of the hospi- 
tals, their good management, and the skill of the attendants. I cer- 
tainly never have seen hospitals better located, better policed, or bet- 
ter conducted than those at Jefferson Barracks ; and it is there that 
the larger number of patients in this Department are treated. Sol- 
diers who die in hospital, in this Department, are buried by the Gov- 
ernment Undertaker, whose duty it is to number the grave and mark 
on the head-board the man's name, rank, company, and regiment, so 
that no difficulty shall attend the finding of any particular grave. 

I visit these hospitals as often as occasion may require, see and 
converse with the men, ascertain their wants, and relieve them when 
in my power ; encourage, assist, and advise them in any and all ways 
possible. 

The question I am most frequently asked just now is, " when will 
we be transferred to our own State?" — Indiana seeming to be the 
Mecca which is to end their pilgrimage, the panacea for all their 
wounds. I am compelled to reply that they can not be sent at pres- 
ent because our hospitals are already full, but that I will try tu get 
them furloughed, which they consider the next best thing to be done 
for them. 

A few cases have been brought tome recently, in which men whose 
term of service has expired, wish to be discharged from hospital that 
they may go to Indianapolis and be mustered out. This is easy 
enough when they have descriptive rolls, but where these have never 
been forwarded, or when, in consequent of frequent changes from one 
hospital to another, they have been lost, a certificate of the date of 
muster from the Adjutant General of the State is required, and this 
I undertake to obtain for them. 

I am also called upon to obtain transportation for, and collect the 
pay of soldiers discharged without final statements, giving them a 
certificate of the date of discharge, and stating it is left in my hands 
for the adjustment of their accounts with the Government. I have 
now the papers of two men discharged in this way, to both of whom 
I furnished money with which to pay their fare across the river and 
procure subsistence on the way. 

I would respectfully request that a small contingent fund be placed 
at my disposal, to meet such cases as the foregoing, and also to fur- 
nish small sums to soldiers going home on furlough, who have not 
been paid for so long a time as to leave them destitute of means. As 
before stated, I have furnished this from my own pocket, and although 
the amount is small, still, if often enough repeated, draws on a salary 



67 

which can only be considered compensative because of the philan- 
thropic nature of the service. 

Sanitary supplies are not called for now with near the frequency 
they were earlier in the winter. In October such a " run " was made 
upon me as to almost exhaust the stores you sent, and compelled me 
to apply to the Western Sanitary Commission. Our men, coming in 
from the front during the chase after Price, were almost destitute of 
clothing. I furnished them all I had of the kinds they needed, and 
succeeded in obtaining from the Sanitary Commission, until their 
stores were exhausted, supplies for those I could not furnish myself. 

In a circular recently published by Mr. Yeatman, President of the 
Commission, " State Agents are authorized to draw upon them for 
such articles as the men may need." There is, therefore, no neces- 
sity for sending sanitary supplies while this arrangement continues. 
Of the stores already sent, there still remains in my hands a part of 
the cotton goods and stationery. The woolens were all issued early 
in the season. 

The expenses of the agency since I took charge of it, December 
15th, 1863, to Nov. 30th, 1864, (11J months,) have been : 

For salary $1,153 33 

For office expenses 186 75 

• Total $1,340 08 

I have endeavored to conduct the affairs of the agency as economi- 
cally as possible, and with this object in view took an office in con- 
nection with two other gentleman, (one of whom is the agent for 
Wisconsin,) thereby reducing the rent to one-third of what it would 
cost to occupy the room alone. The item of rent and fuel will, by 
referring to my monthly reports, be found to constitute a large pro- 
portion of the amount charged under head of " office expenses." The 
next largest items are railroad tickets and postage, and there are 
small bills for office furniture, blank books, printing, &c. 

In closing this hastily prepared report, the writing of which has 
been frequently interrupted by calls to attend the wants of " our 
boys," I wish to say that, with more time, I could have given a more 
detailed account of my duties; but hoping the outline here submitted 
may be satisfactory, 

I am, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

JNO. E. McGAUGHEY, 
Indiana Military Agent. 



68 



NASHVILLE AGENCY. 

report op 00l. ed. shaw, agent — december 27, 1864. 

Office Indiana Military Agency, \ 
•Nashville, Dec. 27, 1 864. } 

Win* Ilannaman, General Military Agent, Indiana polia, hid.: 

Sir : — I have the honor and the pleasure of presenting to you my 
report as Military Agent, at this post, during the year just closing. 

If an apoligy shall seem to be necessary, for either the lateness or 
the brevity of this report, it may be sufficient to say that just about 
the time that I designed beginning the preparation of this document, 
the first collision occurred between the forces of Gens. Thomas and 
Hood, beyond Columbia, and a stream of wounded soldiers began to 
flow into this city, which was swollen by successive skirmishes and 
battles, until our hospitals were filled with wounded, and our camps 
with fatigued and needy soldiers, who had fought by day and marched 
by night, from Pulaski to the suburbs of the city. These, as I am 
instructed, both by our Governor and yourself, were entitled to my 
first attention and services. First came the duty of seeing that our 
wounded were properly cared for. Before this task was fairly began, 
my office and store rooms were visited by hundreds of men, who 
came singly and in squads, to secure articles of clothing necessary 
to keep them from actual suffering and prospective death. On their 
fatiguing retreat they had thrown away their knapsacks, in many 
instances, and had arrived at Nashville burdened with nothing more 
than their weapons of defense, and the scantiest apparel. These 
destitute men, together with the wounded, soon exhausted my entire 
stock of supplies, and I sent up a call for more. Thanks to your 
promptness and that of our Indiana people, a timely and liberal re- 
sponse soon reached me. 

Meanwhile Hood had invested Nashvillo, as he termed it, but, not- 
withstanding, no battle followed for a number of days; still, amid 
the hurry and bustle of preparation, together with constant firing on 
aome part of the line, with the usual casualties and losses, I found 
httie time or opportunity to proceed to the completion of this task. 
But few days had elapsed, however, before Gen. Thomas advanced 



69 

his lines, and hurled his array upon the forts and fastnesses of the 
enemy, fighting a series of battles around Nashville, characterized by 
fearful carnage in both armies, and resulting in the total defeat and 
utter rout of the enemy. Since that fight commenced, I have been 
constantly devoting my best efforts to our noble men who fell in that 
fierce conflict. On the field and in the hospitals I, and such assist- 
ants as I could obtain, did what we could to check the vast tide of 
human suffering. The "harvest" gathered from those red fields of 
valor was indeed "plenteous," and " the laborers were few." All 
the established hospitals at this post are crowded, and all the churches 
and large public buildings are taken for hospital purposes. With a 
vast number of men of our own State lying in these hospitals and 
depending upon this agency for an endless amount of services, pecu- 
liar only to such an agency, I must be excused if I leave to other 
agencies, not at present so crowded with business, the preparation of 
a more elaborate treatise upon the character and duties of such an 
institution, and hasten to a conclusion. 

The duties of a Military Agency are three-fold, having reference 
to the State, the soldier, and the friends of the soldier. 

The proper authorities of the State must i be kept constantly and 
Thoroughly informed as to the number of its soldiers in hospitals, and 
the nature of their wounds or diseases. 

The names, rank, and regiment of all newly admitted, must be 
similarly reported ; likewise those who die, or those who are dis- 
charged or returned to their commands. Careful accounts must be 
kept, and reports made of all cash expenditures, and of all State 
transportation furnished through the Military Agency. These, 
together with such special duties as the Executive, or the General 
Military Agent may, from time to time, indicate, comprise the duties 
of the Agent to the State. 

The duties to the soldier are so extensive and diverse, that they 
are difficult to define. It has been the effort of our Governor to edu- 
cate the soldiers of our State to look upon the Indiana Agents as 
their special friends, sent out by the Governor to stand between 
them and want; and to look upon the "Indiana Rooms" as their 
"home," so far as such an institution can supply the place of a 
home. 

Among the duties of the Agent to the soldiers are those of looking 
after their physical welfare, and relieving their bodily distresses, so 
far as they may be able; procuring their discriptive rolls; facilitating 
the discharge of those who should be discharged ; taking care of arti- 



70 

cles sent from friends at home to their care ; and performing for 
them those manifold services at the various departments and head-quar- 
ters which are too numerous to be named in detail, but well under- 
stood by any private soldier who has attempted to " run the gauntlet" 
of the throng that usually crowds the entrance to these head-quar- 
ters, and the guards that stand at these entrances. 

To the friends are due all those varied services implied in the fol- 
lowing 

"NOTICE. 

"Persons visiting the hospitals of the army to look after sick, 
wounded, or deceased friends, or having any business whatever with 
the army, are requested to call upon the regular Indiana Agents, 
who will render them every possible assistance in the accomplish- 
ment of their work. Office open day and night. No charges what- 
ever for services. 

By order of 

0. P. Morton, Gov. of Indiana. 

Wm. Hannaman, Pres. San. Comr I 

The number of our people who avail themselves of this kind invi- 
tation and arrangement is large, and constantly increasing. 

Added to those implied in the above notice, are those sad and deli- 
cate duties of conveying to friends, not otherwise informed, the intel- 
ligence of the decease of their loved ones; taking charge of their 
effects; ascertaining place of burial, and employing the usual agen- 
cies for sending bodies home when desired. 

These, sir, constitute the chief duties pertaining to the Military 
Agency. To these are added all the duties of a State Sanitary 
Agent, a report of which accompanies this, together with such finan- 
cial reports, vouchers, statistics, etc., as have not hitherto been for- 
warded, and are necessary to render both the Military and Sanitary 
reports complete. 

Trusting that this hasty summary of affairs in this Department 
may meet the approval of all concerned, and that all our efforts to 
faithfully duties satisfactorily, may conduce to the comfort and effi- 
ciency of our noble soldiery, and to the ultimate salvation of our 
country, I have the honor to remain, 

Sir, your obedient servant. 

ED. SHAW, Indiana Military Agent. 



71 



PHILADELPHIA AGENCY. 

report of r. r. corson, state agknt, december 31st, 1864. 

Office of State Military Agent, \ 
Philadelphia, Dec. 31, 1864. j 

g IR : — I have the honor to submit the following report of the 
workings of this Agency for the past year : 

During the first quarter the number of Indiana soldiers here was 
small, but before the campaign opened in the spring the hospitals in 
Washington and Baltimore were put in readiness to receive the sick 
and wounded from the armies of the Potomac and James, by trans- 
ferring many of their inmates to hospitals in this city. In April 
large squads began to arrive, in a convalescent state, many of them 
remaining here but a short time before they were returned to duty. 
This class of soldiers continued to arrive until the campaign in Vir- 
ginia fairly opened, in the early part of May, when we began to re- 
ceive them directly from the field— at first the slightly wounded 
cases, but, as the army advanced to its base on the Pamunky and 
James rivers, some of the worst cases were shipped direct to this city, 
having easy transportation all the way by water. This continued 
until our hospitals were quite full. 

I have continued my usual plan of visiting the men as soon as pos- 
sible after their entering the hospitals. Immediately on their arrival 
here, they are taken to the "Citizens' Volunteer Hospital," a large 
institution erected entirely by our citizens, and supported mainly by 
them ; but under the charge of the Medical Director of Transporta- 
tion, Dr. ri, S. Kenderdine, who kindly furnishes me with the lists of 
names, this serves as a sort of distributing depot. As soon as their 
wounds are dressed, and they are rested from the journey just fin- 
ished, the cases well enough to permit removal are sent to the various 
hospitals in the city, while aggravated cases are retained for treat- 
ment. 

In my regular visitation of the hospitals, the men are found, their 
condition is inquired into, and, when necessary, relieved. Though in 
our hospitals all the nursing, attendance and diet are given that 
could reasonably be expected, sometimes it is impossible to extend to 
the sufferers many of those gratifications which appear luxurious to 
the eyes of health, but become real necessaries to the cravings of the 
sick. These little longings of the very ill or convalescent I supply to 



72 

the extent tuat the physician in charge thinks proper. Frequently it 
happens, too, that, by the accidents of war, company and regimental 
books are lost by the hundred, and men are left in great destitution 
of clothing by reason of the absence of their descriptive lists. In 
such cases my appeal for larger articles to the Sanitary Commission 
is invariably successful, while smnlier ones I supply from the funds 
which your State places in my hands. I need not enter into a detail 
of the articles as they appear in my accounts ; it will be sufficiently 
indicative of their nature and number to say that they are little home 
wants— trifles in themselves, but more important to comfort than one 
is apt to believe until he is deprived of them. To have these trifling 
articles presented to him direct from the State, at the time when he 
feels himself among strangers, and when he most needs them, is proof 
that he has not been forgotten by those whose battles he has been 
fighting. In these visits to the hospitals, a full register is taken of 
the name, company, regiment, residence, hospital, Avard, bed, disease 
and condition of the men. This engrosses the entire time of several 
assistants. The register thus obtained is kept at my office, being 
enlarged or diminished almost daily ; a quarterly report of the names, 
changes, etc., being; furnished the State. The advantages of these 
lists are: First, the State is put in possession of the history of 
every citizen who has periled and, perhaps, lost his life in her service. 
To me the lists kept in my office are of signal use in enabling me to 
answer at once inquiries made by friends. By my method of keep- 
ing the list, I can be certain that, if the missing man be, or have 
been in Philadelphia, such fact will appear, together with a state- 
ment of his condition, as fully as could be collected. To the soldiers 
from the different hospitals visiting my office, these lists prove of 
great benefit, as through them he- finds the whereabouts of his sick 
and wounded comrades. By the aid of a few car tickets furnished 
them they can visit the distant hospitals, benefiting, not only their 
own health, but that of their friends, by the cheerful influence of their 
visits. 

Though out of my department, I have not hesitated to respond 
when severe battles of the war have called aloud to every helper. 
Since my last report I have visited Belle Plains, Fredericksburg and 
White House, Virginia. During the march of the Army of the Poto- 
mac on Richmond, I made several trips between Belle Plains and 
Washington on the hospital boats, and also visited Fredericksburg 
while every house in the city was a hospital, filled with wounded and 
dying. I had no stores with me, but worked hand in hand with the 



73 



great Commissions that arc doing such noble work for the soldier, 
and trust I was the means of soothing some suffering. I have, also, 
.one to Annapolis on the arrival of our prisoners from the bouth. 
but, learning of late that your Washington Agent visited there, I 
have discontinued my visits. 

I look for an increase of Indiana soldiers in our hospitals now that 
the sick and wounded of General Sherman's army will be sent m this 
direction-quite a number of Indiana regiments, I believe, being at 
present with that army. 

Our hospitals have been somewhat diminished in numbers of late, 
but increased in capacity. The beds number about tweu y-five 
thousand (25,000.) Several large and commodious bindings have 
trlL near L outskirts of <he eit y ,WnUe some ofthe s.a « 
ones in the built-up part of the city have boon closed. By the very 
.mall per cent, of deaths in the out-of-town hospitals-being in some 
cases less than two, and none over three per cent.- shows the wisdom 
of placing our sick and wounded men where they can breath the 
fresh air, and are away from the temptations winch surround them 
in everv large city. This Department can boast of some of the 
largest 'and best regulated hospitals in the country, with a most effi- 
cient corps of medical gentlemen. 

While our hospitals were full, during the summer, many of the 
men from Indiana, as well as from other States, were transferred to 
hospitals nearer their homes-at that time there being no difficulty 
< oMahi a transfer, if the applicant would not be fit for duty w.thm 
thirty days. Their beds in the hospital at that time were really 
wanted for others daily expected from the front. The power of 
risferrL rested with the Medical Director of the Department. 
Sow different. There is plenty of room in the hospitals. The 
ransfers caused great confusion, and cost the Government a large 
"cunt of money: and transfers ere made only through t e S ecreUry 
of War. In extreme cases, when it can bo showed that the patient 
health would be really benefited by the transfer, and that it is not 
likely he will be able to return to the field for a long time or is per- 
manently disabled, the transfers will be made if recommended by the 
proper officer. 

I teve the honor to remain your ^^"^^ 

State Military AgerU. 
To Wm. Hannaman. 



74 



MEMPHIS AGENCY. 

REPORT OF DR. GEO. 0. JOBES, AGENT, FOR THE YEAR 1864. 

Report of Indiana Military Agency at Memphis for the year 1864. 

Wm. 1 1 an nam an, 

General Military Agent for Indiana: 

Sir: Having spoken somewhat in detail of the general duties of 
this agency in ray report of last January, it is not necessary for 
me to add anything on that subject now. 

During the past year the health of the troops has been compara- 
tively good ; and as there have not been more than four Indiana reg- 
iments at any one time, my duties have been more even and less 
laborious than the preceding year, but the have been the same in 
kind, and I have endeavored to discharge them in the same way. 

On the 31st day of December, 1863, there were in the general 
hospitals here one hundred and fifty-nine men and one officer, belong- 
ing to Indiana regiments and batteries. Their number is now 
reduced to ninety-one men and one officer, and but very few of them 
are seriously sick. They have all been visited, and I herewith send 
you a list of their names, with the disease and present condition of 
each. 

There are among these a few who ought to be discharged, and oth- 
ers who ought to be furloughed ; but as a man must be utterly worth- 
less for any kind of service before he can be discharged, and chancre 
of climate must be absolutely necessary to save life or prevent per- 
manent disability, before he can be furloughed, the power of a con- 
scientious surgeon is very limited, and he is often blamed when the 
blame justly belongs with the power that rules him. 

As a rule, the hospitals are well managed. The patients are kept 
clean, are attended by competent and faithful surgeons, are kindly 
and carefully nursed, and are generally well fed, but not always sup- 
plied with the light and nutritious diet that is of far more importance 
to the sick than all the drugs of the materia medica. 

Of the sanitary stores I have handled during the year, most of the 
staple articles went to Indiana regiments, fruits and delicacies to the 
hospitals, and clothing directly to destitute soldiers. The articles 
distributed to hospitals were, as heretofore, placed in the hands of 






female nurses, in the belief that they would be more certain to be 
properly used. 

I am* often catied upon by soldiers who, for want of descriptive 
lists, or from some other cause, have not been paid for eight or ten 
months, or even longer. I have continued to loan to such men small 
sums of money, to enable them to go home on furlough, to buy arti- 
cles necessary for their comfort, or to relieve some other pressing 
want. During the past year I have disbursed in this way four hund- 
red and eightv-nine dollars and fifty cents ($489 50), two hundred 
and thirty^four dollars ($234 00) of which were loaned to soldiers 
going home on furlough, and two hundred and fifty-five dollars and 
fiftv cents ($255 50) to those who needed it for other purposes. 
% the* former there were ninety-seven men. and of the latter, one hund- 
red and forty- four. 

Of this sum. thirty-five dollars, the amount disbursed in January 
were charged to the Sanuitary Commission, and the remaining four 
hundred and fifty-four dollars* and fifty cents ($454 50) were charged 
tc the State, in accordance with your instructions. 

The following is a statement of my account with the State for the 
vear ending December 31, 1864 : 

Balance due me, Jan. 31, 1364 $246 97 

Amount loaned to soldiers 4 -^ 50 

Miscellaneous expenses 804 99 

Amount of salary 1> 650 00 

Total ^ 156 46 

Cash refunded by soldiers 1*2 00 

Cash received of H. B. Hibben 20 00 

Cash received for boxes sold 6 50 

t, , i 9 4-0 

Railroad passes a _^ 

Ca*h received of Wm. Hannaman 3,085 56 

83,156 46 



76 

ACCOUNT WITH SANITARY COMMISSION. 

Amount received of Wm. Hannaman $84 75 

Afisoelleneous receipts 48 54 

J 

Balance due mo. January 1. 1864 $87 75 

Drayage and miscellaneous expenses 19 25 

Amount loaned to soldiers 35 00 

Expenses for benefit of sick 32 10 

Total' $1-24 10 

Balance due Sanitary Commission $9 19 

-pectfully submitted. 

GEO. 0. JOBES ; 
Indiana Military, Agent. 






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